Existing rules banning dogs from a portion of Felixstowe beach will remain in place it has been confirmed, after proposals to ban dogs from a larger area failed to get public backing.

Existing bylaws prevent dogs from going on the stretch of beach between Manwick Road and Arwela Road between May 1 and September 30 for those who want to use the beach without dogs nearby.

Those rules have been in place for more than 20 years, but Felixstowe Town Council put forward proposals to extend the area of the ban to include the beach between Manor End and Cobbold’s Point, but reduce the time of the ban to 10am-6pm.

The existing bylaws are set to be replaced by a public space protection order, with a public consultation on both the town council proposals and the existing rules being put forward.

Following the consultation, Suffolk Coastal District Council’s cabinet on Tuesday night agreed to pursue plans to keep existing rules in place.

Steve Gallant, Suffolk Coastal’s cabinet member for community health said: “It’s one of those things where Suffolk Coastal District Council were happy to deliver what local people wanted.

“I think this is a good decision personally – it balances the needs of the holidaymakers who want to sit on the beach where they can do that without dogs, and there are plenty of other areas where people can exercise their dogs, dog lovers and families with dogs can go.”

The public consultation featured 209 responses to the existing plans, with 60% backing it. The town council proposals resulted in 221 responses where 50% favoured those compared to 49% who didn’t.

A spokesman from Felixstowe Town Council said: “Because Felixstowe has become so popular council wanted to put forward the question should we check that this stretch of beach is enough?

“We were posing the question, leaders put that out, and seeing what the result was on balance there were some good points well made about families coming to Felixstowe with their dogs may be put off, and some saying there is probably enough space.

“We wanted to pose the question, we have done that, the results are in, and we are very comfortable with the proposals.”

The decision means the existing rules will remain in place from May 1-September 30.