BURNHAM and Highbridge Town councillors have hit out at Sedgemoor District Council plans to lift winter dog bans.

In a town council meeting on November 14, councillors discussed at length the proposal from the district council to lift winter dog bans on the main beach.

The proposals were submitted in October this year, after the district council decided to review the current orders relating to dog control issues such as dog exclusion areas, dogs on leads and also dog fouling.

The orders mean that dogs are currently excluded all year round from Burnham’s main beach and from other parts of the beach for part of the year.

But the town council is in disagreement with Sedgemoor District Council’s proposals and have written a letter to the council expressing their anger.

Burnham and Highbridge town councillor Louise Parkin said she thinks the ban being lifted would be a “huge mistake”.

She said: “It took the town over two years to get the law changed and get the bans in place.

“People should be able to pick up after their dogs and unfortunately that is not the case.

“The bans are important so that the beach can be used worry free by families.

“I have asked the town council clerk to send a letter to Sedgemoor District Council expressing our views and I hope they will be co-operative.”

The review came after existing orders relating to dog control is- sues were being replaced by Pub- lic Place Protection Orders under the Antisocial Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, with the aim of the new orders being in place by October 2017.

Burnham and Highbridge town clerk Denise Emery said the town council had instructed her to send a letter to the district council saying they do not want to see dog ban orders changed without due consideration.

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said: “As part of the process of renewing the dog control orders across the district and to take account of changes in legislation, it is appropriate for Sedgemoor District Council to consult the town council on orders that covered the beach area.”

The spokesman added: “In this instance the town council was consulted in October to establish if they would support an outline proposal to amend the orders when renewal occurs next year, so that their views could be considered in the process.”