BUSINESSES and dog owners have called for the Vale council to scrap an "outdated" policy banning dogs from Barry beaches during the summer months.

The summer ban is governed by a Vale of Glamorgan bye-law which prevents dogs from using popular spots like Whitmore Bay on Barry Island, Cold Knap and several others in the Vale, between May 1 and September 30.

Anyone found walking a dog on these beaches during this time faces a £500 fine.

But when the annual ban was announced last week it was met with disdain online from a number of dog walkers who regularly use Whitmore Bay and frequent the Island's cafes and shops. Many called for the ban to either be lifted entirely, or amended to allow dogs on the beach at off-peak times.

Jo Greenough called the ban "outdated" and wrote: "If the council want tourism and people to visit they should become more dog friendly.

"The people on the beaches leave more mess than the dogs. And if owners are not picking up the poo, fine them and don't punish the responsible owners."

Reader Paula Harvey wrote on the Barry & District News Facebook page: "I think they shouldn't be banned, just have to be off the beaches between 9.30am and 6pm or something.

"Dog walkers are often out early mornings and evenings."

Business owner April Keeble opened the dog friendly K9 plus 1 cafe on Barry Island in April 2015 and said that she believes businesses will suffer as a result.

“I’m disappointed," she said. "It affects business greatly, 100 per cent of my customers are extremely disappointed."

Customer Ian Weaver, who owns dog walking and sitting business Weaver’s Walkies Buddies, agreed, saying it would be a good idea for the ban to be reviewed.

Speaking on Barry Island this week dog owner Elaine Seviour, added: “Why can’t they go on the beach before 9am and after 8pm? Humans make more mess than dogs. There’s no-one to enforce the ban anyway and the dogs are good for business.”

But others disagreed. Chris Kirk said she felt her grandchildren could play safer on the beach under the policy, while Carl Windels, co-owner of John’s Cafe, on Paget Road, also said it should remain.

“How would they clean the beach before people decided to sit on it with their children?" he added. "There are many other beaches in the Vale of Glamorgan."

The Vale council's director of environment and housing Miles Punter said the ban protected the interests of bathers during the summer season.

“It is aimed at ensuring the safety and pleasure of the majority who would wish to use the beach for sunbathing and swimming or similar seaside leisure activities," he said. "It is also one of a number of criteria used for the assessment of beaches for Blue Flag status.”

He said dogs were still welcome on the promenade and the resort’s other areas during the summer season at 10 other Vale beaches, including at nearby Porthkerry.

An announcement on the Blue Flag application for Whitmore Bay for the 2016/17 season is expected in late May.

For information on where the Vale's dog ban applies visit http://bit.ly/1AQkIns