06/09/2025
Please email to your local councillor. If you use any dog services, if you attend any personal trainer sessions outside in a park - if you can see that this will put multiple people out of business.
We are not opposed to paid licencing. We are opposed to discriminatory per park for
dog walkers only.
Dear [Councillor’s Name],
I am writing as a Bristol resident to raise concerns about the new Parks Business Licence scheme for dog walkers, due to take effect from 1 October 2025.
From the information published, it appears that licences are being issued per park, rather than as a city-wide permit. This creates a significant financial and practical burden for professional dog walkers who use more than one park, compared to a single, broader licence.
I would be grateful if you could clarify:
1. The legal and policy basis for introducing the licence on a per-park basis, rather than a city-wide approach.
2. Whether the Council considered alternative models (e.g. a single permit covering all parks).
3. What consultation was undertaken with affected residents and businesses before this decision was finalised, and whether the results are publicly available.
I am concerned that the current model may be disproportionate, difficult to enforce, and potentially unfair to small local businesses.
Could you please raise these questions with the relevant Cabinet member or officers and let me know their response?
Thank you for your time and support.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address / Postcode]
Email to ( delete as necessary )...
Draft email for clients to send to their ward MP ( full list below, just choose yours).
Dear [Councillor’s Name],
I am writing as a Bristol resident to raise concerns about the new Parks Business Licence scheme for dog walkers, due to take effect from 1 October 2025.
From the information published, it appears that licences are being issued per park, rather than as a city-wide permit. This creates a significant financial and practical burden for professional dog walkers who use more than one park, compared to a single, broader licence.
I would be grateful if you could clarify:
1. The legal and policy basis for introducing the licence on a per-park basis, rather than a city-wide approach.
2. Whether the Council considered alternative models (e.g. a single permit covering all parks).
3. What consultation was undertaken with affected residents and businesses before this decision was finalised, and whether the results are publicly available.
I am concerned that the current model may be disproportionate, difficult to enforce, and potentially unfair to small local businesses.
Could you please raise these questions with the relevant Cabinet member or officers and let me know their response?
Thank you for your time and support.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address / Postcode]
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Ashley Ward
Cllr. Emma Edwards (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Chris Jackson (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Ellie King (Labour) – [email protected]
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward
Cllr. Geoff Gollop (Conservative) – [email protected]
Cllr. Peter Abraham (Conservative) – [email protected]
Bishopston and Ashley Down Ward
Cllr. Carla Denyer (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Tom Baldwin (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Eleanor Combley (Green) -
[email protected]
Cllr. Chris Jackson (Labour) – [email protected]
Central Ward
Cllr. Ellie King (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Andrew Brown (Labour) – [email protected]
Clifton Ward
Cllr. Carla Denyer (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Tom Baldwin (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Eleanor Combley (Green) – [email protected]
Clifton Down Ward
Cllr. Carla Denyer (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Tom Baldwin (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Eleanor Combley (Green) – [email protected]
Cotham Ward
Cllr. Carla Denyer (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Tom Baldwin (Green) – [email protected]
Cllr. Eleanor Combley (Green) – [email protected]
Henbury Ward
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
Horfield Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) –
[email protected]
Lockleaze Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
Redland Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
Southmead Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
Stoke Bishop Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze Ward
Cllr. Ruth Pickersgill (Labour) – [email protected]
Cllr. Lisa Stone (Labour) – [email protected]
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IMPACT STATEMENT FROM DOG WALKERS
Impact Statement: Bristol Dog-Walking Licence Scheme and park use.
Introduction
Independent and commercial professionals, in Bristol are being placed under unsustainable financial pressure by the new licensing scheme. Unlike fitness instructors, who can purchase a multi-park licence (which the council want to charge £900 for) dog professionals must buy a separate licence for each park they use.
One local dog walker works 5 days a week, supporting families across the city. Their work involves using 8 different parks, chosen according to client location, dog temperament, and welfare needs (e.g. shaded woods in hot weather, open fields for exercise, safer paths in wet conditions). Under the current scheme, this would mean eight separate licences at £450 each — totalling £3,600 per year.
Working Hours vs. Paid Hours
A typical working day is 6 hours, but only 2–3 hours are paid (the actual walking). The rest of the day involves travel, collection and drop-off, cleaning, feeding, and administration — all essential but unpaid.
5 days/week × 6 hours/day × 48 weeks = 1,440 hours of work annually
Of these, only 480–720 hours are paid (the walking time).
Cost-to-Hour Comparison (Based on 8 Parks)
Scenario Licence Cost Paid Hours per Year
Cost per Paid Hour - not including parking charges!
No licence £0 600 hrs (avg) £0/hr
1 single-park licence £450 600 hrs £0.75/hr
8 single-park licences £3,600 600 hrs £6.00/hr
(Note: There is no multi-park licence available for dog walkers, unlike activity instructors.)
Key Issues
Excessive cost: £3,600 per year in fees is impossible for a sole trader and prohibitive for larger companies.
Larger businesses also affected: Multi-walker companies must purchase licences for each staff member, multiplying costs and threatening jobs. A firm with 5 walkers using 5 parks each could face £11,250 annually in fees!
Paid vs. actual hours: The licence cost falls entirely on a small number of paid hours, drastically reducing net income.
Dog welfare: Dogs require a variety of environments for their physical and mental health. Weather and ground conditions also mean safe walking options change daily. Restricting walkers undermines responsible animal care.
Safety for women: Limiting access to a single park increases risks, particularly for women working alone in winter months or poorly lit areas.
Out of step nationally: Other councils charge a single flat rate for access to all parks. Bristol’s per-park charge is uniquely punitive.
Tandridge District Council Surrey - £73 annually across all parks
Ealing Council £200 all parks
Bromley Council £200 all parks
Bansted Commons £360 Surrey countryside sites
Brighton ans Hove £200 all parks.
Closing Statement
Bristol’s dog-walking licence scheme is unfair, unsafe, and harmful to both businesses and animal welfare.
For small, independent walkers, costs of up to £3,600 per year are unworkable. For larger companies, multiplied staff fees could run into tens of thousands of pounds, threatening livelihoods and reducing provision for families.
For dogs, reduced park access undermines welfare and safety.
It is urged that Bristol City Council:
Introduce a fair, flat-rate multi-park licence for all dog professionals (walkers, trainers, and behaviourists).
Bring fees in line with other UK councils.
Recognise the welfare needs of dogs, the realities of professional dog work, and the safety concerns of women in this industry.
Without urgent reform, dog professionals across Bristol will be forced to close or withdraw services, leaving families without trusted care and reducing safe, responsible options for Bristol’s dogs.
