DOG-LOVING councillors last night backed a crackdown on inconsiderate owners.

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet yesterday supported a controversial plan to ban canines from school fields and children’s play areas.

Officers have also proposed that council officials have the power to request people to put their dogs on leads in the five parks in the district, including Greenhead Park.

Owners who ignore the new rules could face a fine of £75. Anyone who refuses to pay could be taken to court and be hit by a £1,000 penalty.

The council’s Cabinet voted unanimously to launch a consultation on the plan at yesterday’s meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Clr Jean Calvert backed the proposal to force owners to put their dogs on a lead in public parks if the animals are thought to be unruly.

“I always keep my dog on a lead in Greenhead Park,” said the Ashbrow Labour woman.

“But it’s quite disturbing when big dogs not on leads run up to my dog.”

Fellow dog-owner Clr David Sheard also spoke in favour of the crackdown.

The council’s deputy leader said: “I think this is a reasonable way forward. It’s reasonable to expect people to keep their dogs under control in a public place.

“As a dog-owner myself I think people who walk their dogs have to show consideration to those who are frightened of dogs.”

The Labour Cabinet voted unanimously to launch a 28-day public consultation before bringing in the new dog control orders.

The changes include:

Having the power to make owners put their dogs on leads in Greenhead, Ravensknowle and Beaumont parks in Huddersfield, Wilton in Batley and Crow Nest, Dewsbury

Banning dogs from all children’s play areas and school fields

Giving 400 council staff the power to issue penalty notices.

But Clr Sheard said it was unclear whether the new rules would cover schools which have left the local authority within the last year.

“What happens to the academies and free schools?

“I think the intention was to cover all school grounds but, if we take this literally, some schools won’t be covered,” said the Heckmondwike Labour man.

There were 2,188 complaints about dog fouling last year, and 2,042 the previous year, as well as 977 dangerous dog complaints.