CRITICS of council rules which ban dogs from Dorset’s beaches between May and September say there should be a crackdown on litter louts instead.

As reported in the Daily Echo on Tuesday, dog owners have been calling for a change in the restrictions against their pets, particularly on Poole’s Blue Flag beaches. Dogs are now not allowed on beaches at Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs, and Branksome Chine until the end of September.

The story sparked a debate among readers, with some agreeing with the restrictions and others expressing that the council’s focus should be on targeting people who blight our beaches with rubbish.

Joe Walsh commented: “I walk my eight-year-old dog at 6am every morning along Sandbanks and it’s never caused anyone any harm.

“I’ve never seen a single dog owner fail to pick up their dog business down there at that time of day. I’ve seen the beach littered with barbecues and empty cans more times than I can remember though, hence why there’s a team of people picking all that up before 7am.”

Another commenter said: “I agree with the restrictions though I would like to see the people leaving all their litter be named, shamed and prosecuted.

“When I am there at the weekends and, especially after a nice day, the amount of rubbish left all over the place is awful and the bins are overflowing.

“The council are there clearing up, though a few well-publicised prosecutions, including dog owners who don’t pick up, would demonstrate that the council is serious.”

And one dog owner said: “I’ve often noticed that after a busy summer day, the dog-free part of the beach is in a far worse state, covered in litter and barbecue residues and so on.”

An Echo poll asked readers online: ‘Do you think changes should be made to the dog beach ban?’

More than 1,000 people cast their vote, with the majority (38%) supporting a change in the ban and allowing dogs on all beaches during the summer.

Meanwhile, 31 per cent of people voted for no change in the ban, with the same percentage voting for dogs to be banned all year round from the beaches.