A Coastal & Visitor Areas Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to help keep the Borough’s coastline a safe, clean environment that can be enjoyed by everyone is in place for another three years.

Anti-social behaviour

Feedback from local communities, visitors and partner agencies, gained through consultation has been used to shape the Order, which provides enforcement powers to protect the public from anti-social behaviour.

A new measure in the PSPO is the requirement that dogs must be kept on leads at all times within conservation grazing enclosures when grazing animals are present. Over 80% of people who responded to the consultation were supportive of this additional measure, which is in response to fatal dog attacks on coast conservation animals in recent years.

Conservation animals

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “We feel sure that no one would want these conservation animals to suffer in this way.

“It’s important we make it a legal requirement for visitors to our coastline to ensure that if they are walking dogs in these enclosures, to please keep them on a lead.

“The conservation sheep and cattle are such a valuable asset to the management of this stunning landscape and should be protected and respected by visitors to our coastline.

“If you do spot the sheep or cattle, we ask you to take a wide route around them, so they are not unnecessarily disturbed.”

Restrictions

Restrictions in the PSPO also include:

• Pollution: Leaving litter, dog fouling, urinating/defecating in public, or noise pollution
• Vehicle related antisocial behaviour; either within defined car parks or taking motor vehicles outside of defined parking areas.
• Drinking alcohol in a public space after being told not to by an Authorised Officer to prevent anti-social behaviour (this is not a total ban)
• Lighting any fire or BBQ
• Taking a dog into a dog exclusion zone, or allowing its behaviour to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to another person
• Setting off fireworks, balloon or lantern releases

The making of the PSPO followed a period of public consultation, with more than 60% of respondents supporting each measure. 

Greatest asset

Cllr Doyle continued: “Our coast is one of Sefton’s greatest assets, and it’s our responsibility to protect it for everyone—residents, visitors, and wildlife. 

“We are always striving for a balance between protecting public spaces and enabling responsible enjoyment of Sefton’s natural coast.

“The updated PSPO ensures the spaces we love remain safe, welcoming, and cared for.”

Immediate effect

The updated PSPO takes effect immediately and will run until mid-2028.

You can use this link to find more details.   

Sefton Council remains dedicated to engaging with residents, visitors, and partners to evaluate the PSPO over the next three years. 

Grazing

Each winter, the Council’s Green Sefton service brings grazing animals onto the Local Nature Reserves to help control vegetation growth.

This, in turn, encourages diverse plant species to grow and Sefton’s rare dune specialists such as Natterjack Toads, Sand Lizards and Northern Tiger Beetles to thrive.

In past years, Herdwick sheep and English Longhorn cattle from Lancashire Wildlife Trust have been moved on to the reserve at Ainsdale and Birkdale Local Nature Reserves. 

You can read about the fatal dog attack that took place earlier this year on a Sefton coast conservation animal, here.