Controversy over new Worthing dog control zones (From The Argus)
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Controversy over new Worthing dog control zones
2:11pm Thursday 9th June 2011 in News By Neil Vowles
New council rules to create dog-free zones have been described as a “sledgehammer to crack a nut”.
Animal campaigners have criticised proposed new rules by Worthing Borough Council that would stop owners taking their pets into five areas in the town.
Billy Elliott, of Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (Wadars), said that the new control orders would punish responsible dog owners but have no impact on the unruly ones.
The new restrictions could see dogs banned from Highdown Gardens, Heene Terrace Gardens and along stretches of the seafront.
But the council looks set to withdraw proposals of excluding dogs from Brooklands on the seafront after receiving almost 700 signatures in protest.
Offenders could be fined up to £80 although the council has only one full-time dog warden to enforce the new orders.
Other proposals would also force dog owners to put their pets on a lead at numerous council sites including several parks and gardens, the pier, car parks and allotments.
The council is also considering tightening initial proposals to allow dog walkers to walk a maximum of six dogs at any one time by reducing it to four.
The dog control orders are intended by the council to replace existing byelaws with a more effective method of dealing with dog fouling and related issues.
A consultation period attracted only 74 respondents to the proposals.
Mr Elliott said he sympathised with the intention behind the council’s attempt to reduce the problem of dog mess, especially on playing fields, but said the new rules were excessive.
He added: “It is only a small minority of dog owners that don’t pick up their mess and these are generally people who walk their dogs late at night or early in the morning.
“Either the council will pay people to monitor at these times which won’t be cost effective or the rules will be unenforceable.
“It feels discriminatory against dog owners when green space is already limited.”
But Iva Coombes, of dog walking company Doggy Days Out, praised the move.
She said: “If you have six dogs on a lead there is no way you can control them.
“For responsible dog walkers who do clear up their mess and don’t take out too many dogs, we get a bad reputation because of dog walkers who take up to 12 dogs out and let them run where they like.”
The new rules will be discussed Thursday at a meeting of the council’s joint overview and scrutiny committee.
Comments(15)
game on
says...
2:20pm Thu 9 Jun 11
banargustrolls
says...
2:20pm Thu 9 Jun 11
game on
says...
2:22pm Thu 9 Jun 11
banargustrolls wrote:mmmmmmmmmmmm rampant! I like the cut of your jib...
More dog free zones are needed and in Brighton please - ugly pooing aggressive muts and chavy owners are rampant.
Cory and Trevor
says...
2:48pm Thu 9 Jun 11
Kids' rights to a clean and safe environment should have precedence over dogs that excrete indiscriminately.
Join us in our Fight Against Ignorant Dog Owners (F.I.D.O) as we march on Parliament tomorrow at noon. By way of demonstration, i've not washed my feet.
Ballroom Blitz
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2:48pm Thu 9 Jun 11
I don't - and I'm not alone in feeling that way.
I would be happy if the whole country was a dog-free zone, but of course it ain't going to happen.
feline1
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2:50pm Thu 9 Jun 11
game on
says...
2:52pm Thu 9 Jun 11
Campaign Resolved Against Poo
and remember
Dogs Are People Too! err....
game on
says...
2:53pm Thu 9 Jun 11
feline1 wrote:Tried that! Burgled twice and had to carry my own newspaper home.
If all dogs were just replaced with cats then everything would be better
Cory and Trevor
says...
3:08pm Thu 9 Jun 11
(If you don't believe that, read 'An Ear to the Ground' by Ken Thompson. It's been researched).
Death to the Feline
game on
says...
3:11pm Thu 9 Jun 11
game on
says...
3:11pm Thu 9 Jun 11
rolivan
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4:06pm Thu 9 Jun 11
She said: “If you have six dogs on a lead there is no way you can control them.
Well don't take six dogs at a time then!
sweetcheeks79
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4:38pm Thu 9 Jun 11
John Steed
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11:28am Sat 11 Jun 11
this park is used by the primary school kids and is a very popular recreational area.
game on says...
2:18pm Thu 9 Jun 11