New protection order for Fleetwood nature reserve after wildlife suffered

The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will bring in a series of measures at Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park, off Jameson, which it is hoped will restore the natural balance of the green space.

The site will be zoned, with areas where dogs will be required to be on leads, numbers limited to four dogs per person, as well as areas where dogs can be off leads.

The reserve was formerly the site of Fleetwood Power Station before being reclaimed by Lancashire County Council and opened in 2005, thanks to nearly £1m funding from the North West Regional Development Agency.

It is classed as a precious biological heritage site because of wildflowers and nesting birds and two lagoons

However, a number of people using the park had complained that on occasions dog walkers would arrive with up to five dogs or more and then let them loose there.

The site is owned and overseen by the county council, although the PSPO is being implemented by Wyre Council, after liaising with County Hall.

Tim Blythe, countryside manager for Lancashire County Council, said: "Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park was established as an open space for everyone to enjoy.

"The site has a high biodiversity value, being home to ground-nesting birds such as skylarks, as well as a wide variety of wild plants and flowers, which are mainly found in the grasslands.

"In recent years the high number of visitors with large numbers of dogs has led to a decline in biodiversity, with wild plants disappearing from significant areas of the site, and a rise in dog-related issues spoiling other people's enjoyment.

"The vast majority of dog owners visiting the site behave responsibly, however the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) is now needed as part of a balanced approach to ensure the site stays safe and continues to be of benefit to local people and wildlife.

"There will initially be a period of encouragement and education, with enforcement planned to fully begin in January. We are putting up information boards to make visitors aware of the PSPO and officers will be monitoring the site from now on, with fouling due to penalised immediately."

One person who can see both sides of the issue is Fleetwood councillor Cheryl Raynor, who is a dog owner herself but understands why people are concerned about the issue.

Coun Raynor, vice chairman of Fleetwood Town Council and also a member for Wyre, said: "I can understand why this order is necessary, because when you have large dogs running loose it can be alarming for other people using the park, particularly those with young children.

"Having said that, I have four small dogs myself and i know how difficult it is to find places where you can let them off the lead safely, so they can have a proper run around.

"The Town Council has been looking it at this issue and trying to find a suitable, enclosed place where an amenity for letting dogs runs loose can be established in the Fleetwood area."

Fleetwood Town Council took over the running of the nature park for two years in 2017 after an extraordinary public meeting.

The Town Council took the decision because cash-strapped Lancashire County Council said it could no longer afford to provide rangers to oversee it and there were fears the amenity might fall into decline.

But after an agreement between the two councils, it has now returned to County administration.