PLANS to ban dogs from council-owned sports pitches in Hyndburn have been dropped for a second time.

The order relating to dog control is set to go before the council’s cabinet when it meets on Wednesday.

The controversial proposal to ban dogs from all playing fields in the borough were brought back to the table after first being dropped due to a lack of support three years ago

A consultation had been launched earlier this year seeking the public’s views on proposals, which included the possibility of dogs being banned from playing fields.

But more than 60 per cent of the consultation’s 339 responses said they would not support the ban and the council has shelved the proposal for a second time.

Dog welfare charity Dogs Trust had also voiced opposition.

They said: "We accept that there are some areas where it is desirable that dogs should be excluded, such as children’s play areas, however we would recommend that exclusion areas are kept to a minimum and that, for enforcement reasons, they are restricted to enclosed areas.

"We would consider it more difficult to enforce an exclusion order in areas that lack clear boundaries.

"Dogs Trust would highlight the need to provide plenty of signage to direct owners to alternative areas nearby in which to exercise dogs.

"Excluding dogs from areas that are not enclosed could pose enforcement problems - we would consider it more difficult to enforce an exclusion order in areas that lack clear boundaries.

"We feel that exclusion zones should be kept to a minimum, and that excluding dogs from all sports pitches for long stretches of the year is unnecessary.

"In some cases sports pitches may account for a large part of the open space available in a public park, and therefore excluding dogs could significantly reduce available dog walking space for owners.

"We would urge the council to consider focusing its efforts on reducing dog fouling in these areas, rather than excluding dogs entirely, with adequate provision of bins and provision of free disposal bags."

The ban on dogs in children’s play areas and bowling greens and requirement for dogs to be kept on leads in borough cemeteries are set to be adopted.

And the order will extend to the grounds of Churchfield House in Great Harwood, where dogs will need to be kept on leads.

Proposals to make it a requirement to keep dogs on leads in Foxhill Bank in Oswaldtwistle have also been dropped.