Law Change Stops the Dog Dirt? October, Aged 76
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3/2002 In memoriam hree former members A newsletter for the Cherry Trees Residents’ Amenities Association 3/2002 of the CTRAA h a v e recently died. The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Russell, who was the CTRAA Chairman immediately before Willoughby Wynne, died on 25 Law change stops the dog dirt? October, aged 76. His long and ouncils across the country have been found to do very little to solve the problem with dog dirt. However, there are plans to change distinguished career at the Bar the current legislation, according to which any fines from negligent dog-owners go to the Treasury. The new law would mean that and on the Bench was mainly the fines go to the councils, which may use them to finance anti-dog fouling schemes. This may, hopefully, improve the situation. spent in his native North (he was born in Urmston, a suburb of A recent survey of councils in cent hadn’t issued any verbal Dog fouling isn’t just unsightly improve enforcement (i.e. hire Manchester, which was his main England, by the Keep Britain Tidy warnings, and 49 per cent hadn’t and irritating (especially if you more dog wardens). home for his entire life), but after group, found that a mere 754 dog issued any written warnings. happen to step in it) – it is also As it is estimated that there are A newsletter for the Cherry Trees taking Silk in 1971, he joined Residents’Amenities Association owners were prosecuted during Although more than half of the linked to a disease called toxo- almost five million owners who chambers in London and thus the past three years for letting councils had the power to hand cariasis. There are 16,000 cases don’t clean up after their dogs, the Editor: Thomas Blomberg needed a London home, which their pets foul footpaths and out £50 on-the-spot fines to dog per year, and 50 of them result in potential revenue is not insignifi- Daytime: 8237 7907 became 4c Brunswick Gardens. Evenings: 7938 3775 parks. This means an average of owners who failed to clean up serious eye infections or even cant. So, if the law changes we Sir Patrick was knighted in 1980 [email protected] two cases a year per council. after their dogs, almost one third blindness. may see dog wardens in our and served as a Lord Justice of Material for future issues can be sent to: However, during the same period of these councils had never done One reason for the council’s streets almost as often as we see Flat 7, 18 Vicarage Gate, London W8 4AA these councils received 226,000 so. reluctance to go after the fouling traffic wardens – but they would PC Peter Sewell found himself surrounded by residents who wanted Appeal from 1987 until his retire- complaints about dog fouling; and It gets worse: 16 per cent of the owners could be that the income probably be more welcome… to discuss crime issues with him on the Open Day. ment in 1996, when he and his The Cherry Trees Residents’ research has found that 95 per councils admitted that they only from any foul fines currently goes wife Janie returned for good to his Amenities Association Neighbourhood Watch Open Day beloved Urmston. He continued, cent of the public regard dog dirt ever clean up dog dirt if they to the Treasury instead of the however, to be a member of the Chairman: Willoughby Wynne as unacceptable. receive complaints about it, and councils. However, there are 20mph in he Neighbourhood Wa t c h he hadn’t expected more than a 39 Brunswick Gardens,London W8 4AW The survey found that 64 per cent two-thirds of the councils have not CTRAA for several years. A lively Tel: 7727 9786 plans to reform the legislation, Open Day in Inverness dozen visitors, and thought that right-arm, in-swing bowler, he of the councils hadn’t prosecuted placed one single dog litter bin in allowing the councils to use our streets The aim of The Cherry Trees Residents’ Gardens in June was quite the Open Day definitely should be played for Urmston Cricket Club Amenities Association is to improve our any owners at all last year, 57 per the streets or on footpaths. money raised from these fines to a success. Some 60 neighbours repeated. until he was in his forties, and neighbourhood and to function as our rep- next year? came to talk with our beat officer, Shortly afterwards, unfortunately, served as president of Lancashire resentative towards the Council and other ome 60 CTRAA members authorities in matters concerning the area. he Government intends to PC Peter Sewell, and to receive Peter was transferred to another Cricket Club from 1999 to 2001. attended this year’s Nursing home and dog dirt Membership is open to all residents living Annual General Meeting cut maximum limits in information and leaflets from our department. A new beat officer, Charles Vanrenen, 26, who lived in Palace Gardens Terrace, Strathmore S residential areas from Neighbourhood Watch represen- Simon Piper, has been appointed, Gardens, Berkeley Gardens, Brunswick in the Essex Church on the hot topics at the AGM with his parents, David and 30pmh to 20 mph as part of a tative, Mariju Lee. and has recently started patrolling Heath, and three siblings at 35 Gardens, Inverness Gardens, Vi c a r a g e 25th of November. The main Gardens, Vicarage Gate, on the southern issues were the future of plan to slash speed limits Peter Sewell said afterwards that our area. Brunswick Gardens in the 1990’s, side of Kensington Mall, and on the eastern Vicarage Gate House (the across the UK, in a bid to was one of the victims in the hor- side of Kensington Church Street between reduce the number of road Vicarage Gate and Kensington Mall. empty nursing home), dog rific terror attack in Bali on 12 deaths. October. The South African family fouling, traffic and security. came to our area after having Each day nine people are killed Interested in Following the presentation of the and more than 100 are seriously spent the 80’s in A u s t r a l i a . accounts, it was decided that the Charlie’s parents eventually con- play reading? injured on British roads. Tony Blair £215 special fund for cherry tree has pledged to cut these figures tinued to the south of France, Marie-Jacqueline Lancaster of replacements is to be transferred by 40 per cent by 2010, and min- where they now live, whilst he Winchester Court is interested in to the general fund, as all tree moved to Sydney and from there isters believe that the best way to forming a local play reading replacements are currently paid achieve this is to review all speed to Singapore, where he became a group. She knows an experienced for by the Council. Should the computer specialist. He was one limits, starting next year. It would leader who would be willing to Council at a later date change its be the first overhaul of the system of several players in the start the project, and has found position in this matter, the tree since the 1950’s, when the traffic Singapore Cricket Club's rugby that a hall can be rented for as lit- fund can of course be reactivat- team who had flown down to Bali was a fraction of what it is today. tle as £10 for 1.5 hours. So, if ten ed. Currently, the local authorities set for a short holiday. people join up and meet once a Our local councillor, Christopher Roland Morgan, of 66 limits largely according to the month, it shouldn’t have to cost B u c k m a s t e r, gave an update speed traveled by 85 per cent of Kensington Church Street, died more than £1 per person per regarding Vicarage Gate House. vehicles on a given stretch of suddenly outside his flat on 15 meeting - plus cost of play copies, The Council is becoming very September. He had been a mem- road. According to safety experts, if they can’t be sourced at the much aware of the growing need this practice is responsible for a ber of the CTRAAfor many years; Library. for local nursing homes; a need a delightful and jaunty person, high level of accidents and a cul- Those interested can contact that is expected to increase dras- ture of speed. The new system Mariju Lee discussing security issues with neighbours Simon Agace, often sporting a button hole and Marie-Jacqueline: 11 Winchester After the meeting, Charles Shaw and others were eager to sign the tically during the next 30 years. In would mean that borough engi- François de Hennin and Ned Hetherington. straw boater. petition regarding Vicarage Gate House, which Huw Thomas (right) Court, Vicarage Gate. light of this, it is likely that the neers should set limits that reflect afterwards delivered to the Council. Council will try to ensure that the the Government’s concern over No more wailing wall site continues to be used for a Dog dirt and refuse bags on Colin Wingrove, Holland Sector high accident rates, speeding and nursing home. pavements were, as usual, popu- D e p u t y, gave a brief update its wish to encourage more peo- nverness Gardens’ western wall, which, after years of neglect, was Several parties have expressed lar subjects. It was decided that regarding the crime situation in torn down to be rebuilt, was finally finished during the summer.