More than 2,000 people took to the promenade in Rhos-on-Sea yesterday to protest against Conwy County Borough Council’s plans to ban dogs from a popular stretch of beach.

A current Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order for the county expires next month and the local authority is now looking to extend it for the next three years and add three new areas - the dry beach between Colwyn Bay and Rhos-on-Sea, Rhos Point to the Promenade Access Point in line with College Avenue and Penmachno Playing Field.

Dog walkers are up in arms over the plans and turned out in force yesterday with other residents to make their views known.

Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, who last week described the proposals as “Draconian”, attended the protest and addressed the crowd with protest organiser Aaron Haggas. Rhos Councillors Jo Nuttall and Gareth Jones were also in attendance. 

Speaking afterwards, Darren said:

“The fact that more than 2,000 people and their four-legged friends turned out for this protest demonstrates just how much these proposals are opposed.

“The council claim’s the ban is needed because of dog fouling, but the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and the local authority has a dismal record of enforcement action against the small minority who aren’t.

“All these residents want to do is continue taking their dogs for a walk on the beach, which is good for them and their pooch, and it is crazy that the council want to stop them.  

“The protest walked with their dogs along the beach from the Tourist Information Centre in Rhos-on-Sea to Colwyn Bay Pier and made their views clear on the banners they carried.

“I really hope that the council take note of the level of opposition to these proposals and rethink these unnecessary and Draconian plans.”