DOG control orders introduced by West Devon Borough Council in October came under focus at a Tavistock Town Council committee meeting last week.

Members of the properties committee were provided with information summarising the DCOs, implemented across the borough.

Cllr John Sellis asked if there was any way the DCOs could be altered. He said: 'Do we have any jurisdiction to change this? People need to exercise their dogs and we are inhibiting them. Some dog owners don't have transport to get to the moors and we are stopping them from exercising their dogs.'

General manager Wayne Southall explained that the matter was brought forward to the town council with suggestions of dog exclusions and dogs on lead areas.

He said: 'We did bring that to council which was ratified. In regards to the Meadows, we allocated Pearce's Meadow unrestricted to dog owners in order for them to exercise their dogs.'

l DCOs, empowered by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, are:

Dog fouling: an offence for a person in charge of a dog who fails to remove any dog fouling, applying to all land open to the air in the borough.

Dogs on lead: dogs are required to be on a lead across the borough. On open access land (Dartmoor) across the borough, dogs are required to be on short fixed leads between March 1 and July 31 and at all times near livestock.

Dog exclusion: dogs will be banned from fenced, hedged, walled children's play areas, bowling greens, tennis courts, skateboard/BMX parks and putting greens.

Dogs on lead by direction: any officer authorised by the borough council can request a dog owner to place their dog on a lead in any open public land.

Full details of the dog control orders can be found on West Devon Borough Council's website http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/dogorder">www.westdevon.gov.uk/dogorder