Dog owners will remain banned from exercising their pet pooches on Falmouth’s beaches during the summer months after councillors confirmed they are to stick with the current legislation.

The town council’s beach management group had had a lengthy debate on lifting the dog beach ban during the winter months after receiving a petition signed by around 1,000 people who wanted the ban relaxed – at least on Castle Beach. The suggestion wasn’t without opposition, however, and a counter-campaign was started requesting the council maintain the current situation.

The beach management group, which is made up of councillors and other interested parties, recommended that no changes are made and that was put before the council’s finance and general purposes committee last week, who backed members.

Councillors were told that several options had been discussed, including a complete year-round ban on dogs on beaches. At last week’s meeting, Councillor Steve Eva suggested the ban could be amended to come into play on May Day, rather than at Easter – the date of which changes each year – which would give dog owners around an extra month on the beach.

Councillor Steve Gray, chairman of the beach management group, however, said: “These are lawful orders, to change one is massive. It is not just about going to Cornwall Council and asking, it’s a massive process and costly.”

Councillor Candy Atherton, chair of the finance committee and a dog owner, said: “I personally regret that we do not have one beach that is accessible, but that is the situation.”