DOG walkers may soon have to keep off parts of Weston beach all year round - or face a fine of up to £1,000. North Somerset Council plans to stop dogs entering the area between Royal Sands and the Grand Pier for 12 months of the year. The ban is currently

DOG walkers may soon have to keep off parts of Weston beach all year round - or face a fine of up to £1,000.North Somerset Council plans to stop dogs entering the area between Royal Sands and the Grand Pier for 12 months of the year. The ban is currently only in place from September to May.The plans, which form part of the council's consultation with parish and town councils over the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environments Act 2005, also include proposals to stop dogs going in any enclosed or fenced children's play area in North Somerset and to continue the all-year round dog ban on the lower walkway around Marine Lake in Weston.North Somerset Council also wants to introduce an order making it an offence not to remove dog faeces from most public and private footpaths or roads or on any piece of land open to the air and where members of the public are allowed to walk. Dog walkers would also have to keep their pets on leads at all times in churchyards and cemeteries.The penalty for committing an offence contained in a dog control order is currently £1,000, although a fixed penalty fine of up to £75 could be offered instead of prosecution.Subject to public consultation, North Somerset Council hopes to bring in the new regulations in April.The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 contains the power for local authorities and parish town councils to make new dog control orders.If the new bans come into force they will replace any other system of by-law concerning dogs which have previously been introduced.