CHANGES to dog access rules are being considered for two of Jersey’s main parks, the Infrastructure Minister has revealed.
Constable Andy Jehan said that changes are being considered to allow dogs on leads throughout the green spaces at Millennium Town Park, while the new Coronation Park playing fields extension would also permit dogs on leads.
The changes come as dog registrations have soared by 25% since 2020, prompting a government review of whether current restrictions remain “appropriate and realistic”.
In a letter to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, Mr Jehan revealed that Millennium Town Park – currently designated as a Part 1 Park where dogs are permitted on leads but restricted to the pathways only – would be reclassified as a Part 2 Park.
This would allow dogs on leads throughout the green open spaces, excluding the children’s play area and games areas.
The Parks Team has reassessed the designation because Millennium Town Park is “a key green space in the centre of St Helier, where such spaces are limited”, explained Mr Jehan.
The Coronation Park playing fields extension, which is not currently covered by the Policing of Parks (Jersey) Regulations 2005, would also be brought under Part 2 restrictions, aligning them with the main park where dogs are already permitted on leads.
The minister said adopting these amendments would provide “greater consistency” across major government parks, “with three of the main parks operating under the same Part 2 regulations”.
However, Mr Jehan acknowledges concerns about safety in spaces heavily used by families and children.
He notes that parks “are intended to provide safe and inclusive spaces for families” and says it is “essential to carefully assess how each area is used in practice, including the volume of children using open spaces and the potential impacts of increased dog activity”.
No changes are proposed for Howard Davis Park, which operates under Part 5 restrictions prohibiting dogs entirely due to its Grade 1 listed status, protected memorial graves, wildlife and numerous public events.
The park must maintain “a calm, controlled environment”, Mr Jehan said.
Winston Churchill Park and existing Coronation Park areas would also keep their current Part 2 status, with compliance described as “generally good, with only a small minority failing to follow the existing rules”.
The Parks Team is reviewing signage across all parks to ensure messaging is “clear, consistent, suitably placed and aligned with park-specific regulations”.
Mr Jehan also revealed concerns about unauthorised signs on public land, stating: “I cannot see why or how private individuals should be permitted to erect signs on public land, especially where these signs do not reflect the law.”
He said he would be “making further enquiries to identify instances where this has occurred”.
A further review is required for additional locations including government-owned playing fields, government-maintained gardens and parish-managed public spaces.
