Two Plymouth NHS workers have been fined £100 each for walking their dogs off lead in Central Park despite signage being turned away and hidden from public view.
The Plymothians were walking their dogs Winter and Barney through Central Park on Friday when Plymouth City Council enforcement officers issued fixed penalty notices. The incident, captured on video, reveals council signage turned away from public paths, causing confusion and frustration among park users.
In footage shared exclusively with Plymouth Plus, one council enforcement officer admits the restricted area sign was facing the wrong direction and refuses to reposition it, claiming it was the responsibility of "another department". Moments later, his colleague is seen correcting the same signage, raising serious questions about the integrity of enforcement actions.
One of the individuals fined told Plymouth Plus:
"This feels like a deliberate act by the council to unfairly issue fines and raise revenue. We both work for the NHS and this fine equates to a day's wages for us, it's completely unjust."
"We followed every visible instruction. It's absurd that the council is fining people when they haven’t even made signage clearly visible."
This is not the first time Plymouth City Council enforcement officers have faced criticism. Previously, Plymouth Plus exposed the enforcement officers parking illegally in restricted loading bays, leading local businesses to accuse the council of "double standards."
Despite these assurances, numerous park users continue to challenge the fairness and clarity of signage across Central Park.
The dog owners intend to appeal their fines, using the video footage as key evidence of flawed enforcement practices by the council.
When offered a right to reply to the hidden signage and fines issued at Central Park, a spokesperson for Plymouth City Council said:
"While we do not comment on individual cases, we are confident that the area in which dogs must be on leads in Central Park is clearly signed and meets legal requirements for enforcement.
“Not only are there signs as you enter the park, as well as scattered around the area but the zones are also marked on several paths.
The dogs on lead area of Central Park covers the Meadow Cafe, Community Sports Hub and Play Space and in 2020 was extended to include Cottage Field, the adjacent grass outside of the Life Centre and also the Milehouse Park and Ride car park, after 55.3 per cent of responses were in favour.
"All areas in which dogs must be kept on a lead in Plymouth can be found here.
Details on what to do if you are issued with an FPN that you feel is unfair can be found here.
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