Pennant Street Park: Big changes, No sudden fines—see what’s moving where
Curious which side of the field stays open for dog walkers—and where the new family-safe zone will be? I’ve pushed for an education-first approach, so no sudden fines, just clear guidance and better signs. A new fence is planned to make boundaries obvious, and the play park’s protections remain. Read on to find out what’s changing, when it happens, and how it makes Ebbw Vale better for everyone.
Jonathan MIllard
10/21/20252 min read
Pennant Street Park: Big changes, No sudden fines—see what’s moving where...
I just wanted to share a quick community update about dog access at the Pennant Street recreation area and how we’re approaching this with fairness, clarity, and common sense.
What’s changing under PSPO-DC-083
The review has been completed to adjust the dog exclusion zones at Pennant Street, Ebbw Vale:
Historically, the Eastern part of the recreation area was an exclusion zone, but it was removed during the 2019 PSPO review after representations from a local member.
Since then, a local Member and two members of the public have asked that the Eastern part be reinstated as a dog exclusion area.
Grounds Maintenance has proposed:
We are reinstating the dog exclusion in the eastern area and committing to installing a perimeter fence there to make the boundaries clear and practical.
Removing the existing exclusion control on the Western part of the site.
The aim is simple: maintain fair access and ensure there’s no significant reduction in space for local dog walkers to exercise their dogs, while protecting areas used heavily by children and families.
Education first, not fines
Today, I’ve worked to ensure that local dogs and their owners will not be fined, but rather educated on the changes as they come into effect. We’ll focus on:
Clear signage and communication.
Friendly guidance from officers and the council.
Officers are only responding to complaints made, rather than actively patrolling to penalise.
This is about supporting responsible ownership, not catching people out.
Why this matters
Families get a clearly defined, safer area for play.
Dog owners retain meaningful, accessible space to walk and exercise their pets locally.
A perimeter fence on the Eastern side should reduce confusion and help everyone respect the rules.
How you can help
Look out for updated signage in the park once installed.
Share the information with neighbours and fellow dog walkers.
If you see an issue, report it—officers will respond to complaints to keep things fair and consistent.
Together, we can make Ebbw Vale better—keeping our parks welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.
If you have views on PSPO-DC-083 or practical suggestions for signage and fencing at Pennant Street, please get in touch with me. Your feedback helps us get this right for the whole community.
