Three more sites added to list of spaces with dog-walking restrictions

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Cambridge City Council has extended its public spaces protection order to require dogs to be on leads from March 1 to July 31 at Byron’s Pool, Church End, and Fulbourn Road nature reserves to protect wildlife and breeding birds. This measure follows public support and aims to reduce complaints, with the council planning to consider similar seasonal restrictions at Hobson’s Park in the future.

Cambridge City Council has expanded its public spaces protection order (PSPO) to include three additional locations where dogs must be kept on leads during specific months. The new restrictions, approved at the council’s cabinet meeting on September 23, apply to the local nature reserves at Byron’s Pool, Church End, and Fulbourn Road. From March 1 to July 31, dogs are required to remain on leashes in these areas to safeguard wildlife and breeding birds.

The updated PSPO extends existing regulations aimed at balancing the protection of public health and local amenities with providing opportunities for dog exercise. Councillor Mike Todd-Jones, cabinet member for communities, stated that 813 residents responded to the consultation, with a majority expressing support for maintaining the restrictions. He noted a decline in complaints about dogs, from 61 cases in 2021-22 to 28 in 2025-26, suggesting improved compliance.

Current restrictions already mandate that dogs be kept on leads at all times in selected locations, including Newmarket Road Cemetery, Histon Road Cemetery, the pond and stream area at Cherry Hinton Hall, the green space outside Hanover and Princess Courts, Tenby Close park, and the Nightingale Community Garden. Additionally, regulations limit dog walkers to no more than four dogs at once in areas such as Byron’s Pool nature reserve, Coldham’s Common sports pitches, and Hobson’s Park.

The council also indicated plans to explore introducing seasonal leash requirements at Hobson’s Park nature reserve in the future. The expanded PSPO has been approved for a further three-year period, reflecting the council’s ongoing commitment to managing dog walking in sensitive public spaces.

The Royal Kennel Club expressed support for the wider use of “on lead on direction” orders, emphasizing the importance of enforcement officers understanding dog behavior. The organization cautioned that dogs could be unfairly classified as nuisances by individuals who may simply dislike dogs, rather than due to any improper behavior by the animals themselves.

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