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PSPO Consultation Comments 30 October 2015 ALL RESPONSES Q7. Please provide any other comments you wish to make on these proposals in the box below? I think that while dogs should be banned from children's play areas that they should be allowed off the lead in other areas of parks, although I accept that this makes it more difficult to collect any dog waste, as some older people cannot walk into open countryside. I do not have a dog. As can be seen from my answers to the questions I support all of the proposals except one, the exclusion of dogs from open playing fields. Each facility needs to be addressed individually as a blanket ban is not suitable for all. Whilst I agree that dogs do not need to be walked on a running track such as the one at Wilson's Playing Fields, I do not agree that they should be excluded from open fields which happen to be marked out as sports' pitches for several months of the year eg. White Ash Playing Fields in Oswaldtwistle. As a regular user of the fields these are my reasons why. It would not 'best use of the land' as the football and rugby pitches are only used for a few hours a week for the purpose of these sports. Dog walkers use the fields at all times of the day and every day. Whilst some dog fouling does take place, the bins provided are always well used by the majority of the dog walkers. Excluding dogs will not solve the problem of irresponsible owners but will punish the responsible ones. Irresponsible owners never seem to get 'caught in the act' because I believe they tend to walk their dogs in the early mornings or late at night when there is nobody to see them. They will continue to do this even if the new proposals come into force. All the dog walkers I see pick up after their dogs have fouled. I personally pick up any dog mess I see (not from my own dog), which averages two lots per day. Not picking up after your dog has fouled is an offence so I would rather this law is enforced rather than bringing in a new one. It is also not going to prevent dog fouling in other public spaces such as on the pavements of our borough. Many of the dog walkers are quite elderly and have mobility problems and find access to the White Ash Playing Fields good. Having a dog is beneficial for the elderly as it provides them with a companion when many of them have lost their spouses. Having spoken to many of them they are very concerned about where they will take their dogs for exercise if they are excluded from the fields. Also most of the elderly people I spoke to do not have access to the internet and so would have to put extra effort into completing the survey or did not feel able to take part at all. Dogs need to socialise and have exercise to stay healthy and non-aggresive. It is lovely to see how the many different sizes and breeds of dog all play together each day. Although I could walk my dog around the pitch, he would have to be kept on a lead as he would not understand that he is not allowed over the white line demarcating the pitch. Dogs have to be kept on a lead in the Foxhill Nature Reserve so I would have to travel further to find somewhere to walk him. However my dog walking friends are not able to do this as their are not able to walk as far thus depriving me and my dog of company. I would not feel safe walking my dog in places which cannot be seen from a public road and I would certainly not allow my teenage daughters to take him somewhere off the beaten track. In fact, I do not even walk through the nature reserve on my own as it is too isolated and several muggings have taken place there. I believe that all users of the field should be able to share the facilities that Oswaldtwistle has to offer. Much money is spent on the preparation of the pitches for football purposes and indeed for clearing up the litter that is left behind after a match or training. The dog walkers ask for very little except for the space to let the dogs exercise and for the bins to be emptied once a week. Finally, I am only aware of this consultation because one of the dog walkers saw a poster in Gatty Park and informed me about it. I believe it has had a mention in the Accrington Observer though I do not read the local newspaper. I have spoken to many users of the field over the last week and not one of them was aware of the consultation. Posters should have been placed at all of the places which may be affected. As this was not the case, this has not been a proper consultation of the residents of the borough as their views have not been sought and taken into consideration. Page 1 of 24 PSPO Consultation Comments 30 October 2015 ALL RESPONSES I think to exclude from social areas would be against equality and would effect people with disabilities and the vulnerable to effectively walk their dogs and get exercise in the areas I visit we have number of elderly people who love that they can walk on the flat and enjoy the social time that develops when you walk dogs. Often they are on their own or there carer for their spouse and this allows them a short period of time away. We also have number of people with walking difficulties who physically can't walk a long way so this is ideal. Finally at weekend you find loads of families enjoying the space either watching the football or playing games and as family this includes their dogs. We all pay the same to have access to spaces we should all be able to use equally. Maybe if we had known this was a possibility we would have objected last time there was consultation to improve. All dogs should be kept on leads in parks, I regularly see dog owners let their dogs off leads as soon as they come onto the park and if they are talking to other owners they become oblivious to their dogs fowling, hence fail to pick up and dispose of their foul. If a ban on playing fields goes ahead then in my opinion you will be allowing even more dogs to use the parks as a dog toilet. I can understand the issue with dogs on public land and unfortunately the issue with certain owners not cleaning up after their dogs. I have before offered people a dog bag to clean up their mess, but it is very rare you see this. The issue I have is that after matches have been played on Wilson's playing fields every week, the litter left by them afterwards is appalling. Is it one rule for dogs but another rule for people? Why should dogs suffer when people can't even put a drinks carton in a bin or take it away? dont punish the many for the few who are not responsible dog owners. enforce fines and make it visible in the papers this will help deter dog fouling. I take my two dogs in Cut Wood Park on most days unless the weather such as raining prevents me. I let the dogs off their leads in the park and sometimes they run onto the football pitches as I walk along the parks paths, if they have not already emptied their bowels before reach the park I watch them and pick up any dog mess, bagging it and placing the bags into the bins provided. I think that I am a good dog owner and always do the right thing to protect the public from dog mess. The dogs are friendly and are not a danger to the general public. I do not want to be prevented from using the park when out with my dogs. It's not the dogs fault , but the lazy owners. Don't prevent the dogs from having fun with their families. You will make everyone suffer because of a few lazy ignorant people would wouldn't take notice of new rules anyway. If you're going to prevent dogs from being on playing fields make it seasonal like they do with beaches. It shouldn't have to be all year surely? please do not decide to ban dogs from cemetries etc Dog owners have used Memoryal Park field for decades without any problems. Owners pick up (dog bins always full) If they ban dogs it would cause friction between the public. Are footballers to be banned for causing litter and using foul language ? Leave thing's as they are in Great Harwood. People have always exercised their dogs on Memorial Park Public Land and responsible owners Pick up (dog waist bins are always full).It would be unfair to penalise dog owners,arter 100 years of public use of the field. Are footballers to be prosecuted for causing litter all over the place and using foul language!!! Baning dogs and owners would cause bad feelings among the public,where before there was none. Page 2 of 24 PSPO Consultation Comments 30 October 2015 ALL RESPONSES Simple pick up the poo and drop bag on the pitch as a protest nobody gets done for litter in the area so no probs - facebook it Why ban dogs - the land was left to all of us.

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