The Marine & Coastal Access Bill currently going through Parliament will create an access route for walkers around the entire coastline of the UK, as well as opening up surrounding areas for recreation.

For dog walkers this is a golden opportunity to gain access to the coastline, however, the Kennel Club is concerned that local authorities could still be allowed to make ‘dog control orders’ (DCOs) excluding dogs from these areas. Research shows that one of the most important factors for dog owners in deciding where to walk their dogs is having somewhere near to home – therefore creating exclusion areas could be very counterproductive by forcing dog owners into their cars to drive to alternative areas.

Furthermore, the Kennel Club would argue that there are considerable health benefits that regularly walking a dog can bring, which could potentially lead to reductions in national healthcare expenditure. Dog owners also have a legal responsibility to provide their dogs with adequate exercise under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, so it is imperative that as many public spaces as possible are made available to help owners comply with the law.

For these reasons we have drafted amendments to the Bill which, if successful, will prevent DCOs from being applied to the route and allow dogs and their owners the same rights to enjoy the coastline as everybody else. We are also supporting a joint amendment on ‘effective control’ with the RSPB to increase our chances of success.

These amendments have been sent to peers who sit on the Lords Joint Committee scrutinising the Bill. We have also written to all 120 MPs in coastal constituencies to ask them to support the amendments as the Bill passes through Parliament before becoming law.

Please support our campaign by lobbying your own MP – whether in a coastal constituency or not – to vote in favour of our amendments.

Useful links:

You can find out who your MP is by going to www.locata.co.uk/commons and typing in your postcode. 

This link also allows you to write to your local MP

The Kennel Club's proposed amendments to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill

The joint Kennel Club and RSPB proposed amendments to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill

Marine and Coastal Access Bill Campaign Letter - Suggested Form of Words to an MP

Marine & Coastal Access Bill FAQs

Find UK beaches where you can walk your dog

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