Here are some recent results of the Tenby Observer website poll.

The poll that ended on Friday, September 26, was our first one ever and asked the question, "should dogs be banned from Pembrokeshire's main beaches?"

That there should be fewer dog bans was the option chosen by 22%, while a further 15% advocated only banning irresponsible owners. No one went as far as to say that dogs should only be banned if it were possible to ban seagulls as well! This represents a substantial minority (37%) who would like greater freedom for dogs while admitting the desirability of occasional bans.

A majority (63%) came out in favour of restricting dogs on beaches, with 43% saying most beaches should be dog-free, an additional 11% voting for more dog-free areas, while nine per cent said that dogs should be kept on leads when near people.

These results are not conclusive, however, as the expression 'dog-free' could be open to misinterpretation. Dog-lovers may also have missed the sarcasm of the seagull-ban option, which was meant to indicate a resolve against any kind of beach ban for dogs.

However, it is interesting to see how much response the issue has prompted, and how opinion is divided over this relevant issue. The question was inspired by recent correspondence in the Tenby Observer.