A petition has been launched calling on Cornwall Council to relax the beach dog ban in the summer months, writes Richard Whitehouse, local democracy reporter.

An “irritated” dog owner set up the online petition asking Cornwall Council for a “compromise” on the beach ban.

Many of Cornwall’s beaches enforce a ban on dogs from Easter to the end of September, only allowing them to be taken onto the beach in the evening.

Andy Jenrick said that the rules were too strict and should be relaxed.

On his online petition he states: “I live close to Portreath in Cornwall and have for many years been irritated by the incredibly ridiculous rules enforced upon local dog owners.

“The ban at Portreath runs from the variable Easter Sunday to the END of September, and during that time you cannot go on the beach until after 7pm. Another local beach at Porthtowan is worse with total ban from Easter Sunday to the end of September, so I, and I am sure, many others, simply NEVER go there, ever!! Outside of school holidays, the beach at Portreath is near empty.”

Andy said that there are three options which would be a good compromise. The first would be to have the ban in place only during the school holidays.

Alternatively he said that ban could run from the start of the Easter holidays to September 1. Or he suggests the ban could only be in place from 10am to 5pm.

“That way,” he explains, “families have the beach to themselves for 7 hours during the school holidays.”

Andy adds: “I am local and live here for 52 weeks per year. I am not a holidaymaker who visits for a week or two. However holidaymakers with dogs are also affected and may choose to go elsewhere, thereby affecting the local economy. Dog owners are unfairly penalised.”