Dogs could be banned from city parks over safety fears
DOGS could be banned from parks in Nottingham to get rid of disease-ridden dog mess.
Nottingham City Council said it would consider the action to protect the city's youngsters.
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Ward councillor Brian Grocock
The authority wants to introduce its first dog control order for Chediston Vale Park, which it says has become a hotspot for dog fouling.
Officers say parents have complained about mess at the £220,000 play area, opened last year.
Anyone who breaches the order could be fined up to £1,000.
Neighbourhood manager Heidi May said dogs could be exercised at other parks, including Sandy Banks nature reserve, instead.
"That's only a five-minute walk away," she said. "We're trying to say, 'Let's make this an exclusive area where children and young people can play without picking up any disease'."
Consultation will be carried out before a decision is made.
If the council introduces an order it has a variety of options. It could ban dogs from the park, or just from the play area. It could also demand dogs are kept on leads or even restrict the number of dogs walked by a person at one time.
A city council spokeswoman said other parks could also be considered for a ban.
"Each area would be considered on a case-by-case basis," she said.
"We take into consideration complaints from the public, other park users and feedback from councillors. Chediston Vale Park is a new park with a children's play area and we have received many complaints, hence our decision to push for this order in the interest of the public."
Chediston Vale Park is about the size of two football pitches, a third of it covered by the play area.
Ward councillor Brian Grocock, who has two dogs, has called for dogs to be banned from the play area in the past.
The Labour councillor said: "When we have a public event on there, away days or barbecues we have to go round cleaning the place up before we can use it.
"We have had a difficulty with this particular park because it's got a large grassy area to it and a wild flower meadow on it. Dog walkers are coming on to it to exercise their dog."
Mr Grocock said the council decided to take the action after attempts to spot dog fouling in the act were unsuccessful.
Currently people can be fined £50 if they do not clean up their dog's mess.
As well as being a nuisance, germs in dog mess can lead to various infections, including a roundworm called toxocara canis.
This can be easily picked up by young children, causing stomach upsets, sore throats, asthma and, in rare cases, blindness.
Councils can pass dog control orders under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005.
The city council is currently compiling evidence for the Chediston Vale case, which will be presented to the area committee before a decision is made.
And if it proves successful, the council may look at introducing orders at other parks around the city, including Mosswood Crescent, Bestwood.
Keith Eley, 75, of Bestwood Park, who often takes his grandchildren to the parks in the area, said: "It's a concern, having grandchildren. You don't want them getting their feet in it. It's a health hazard."
If the order is passed, the city council has said there will be "regular patrols", which it hopes will be provided by agencies including different council departments and police.
Mansfield and Ashfield district councils are also considering introducing dog control orders.
To have your say about Chediston Vale call Heidi May on 0115 915 9129.
Comment: Page 14
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by Tony, Beeston
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 5:19PM
“Yet another example of our justice system punishing everyone rather than sorting the antisocial behaviour of the mindless few.It is obvious that the punishment for this offence is a joke and the irrisponsible owners who allow this to happen know this.
I have observed a blind gentleman who regularly walks his guide gog past our house and guess what,occasionally his dog stops and carries out his toilet duties.The astonishing thing is that the gent takes out a plastic bag and removes the mess before going on with his business.He is a remarkable gent and a fine example of what a responsible owner can be like.”
by Dog Owner, Nottingham
Monday, September 06 2010, 8:52PM
“Oh look, another story about how the minority are ruining things for the majority!!!”
by m, gedling
Monday, September 06 2010, 11:54AM
“Andyman wrote
"who can tell the difference between fox or dog waste by simply looking at it"
you cant tell just by looking, its in the taste i think,
"When will local authorities learn,"
is that a trick question ? the only time they learn anything is when we pay for them to go on courses.”
by Penny, Cotgrave, Nottingham
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:54AM
“And we haven't lived in a 'democracy' for YEARS, Ted. I don't think a Labour council would have the first idea what the word means, or how to go about making a 'democratic' decision on anything.”
by Penny, Cotgrave, Nottingham
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:20AM
“Yeah, Ted - an amazing number of generalisations drawn from specifics, and I wrote my own comments on purpose, to illustrate precisely that.
I'm sure all responsible parents would be HORRIFIED at the thought that some of us might base our ideas on parents and children in general on the appalling behaviour of what they would argue are 'the few'. This is PRECISELY what is happening to the majority of responsible dog owners, like me, who are actually being persecuted by over-zealous councils pandering to over-neurotic parents. So, to anyone who objects to sweeping comments made against parents and kids, all I can say is, WELCOME TO MY WORLD, FOLKS!! NOW you might begin to understand how it feels!
I think that the most sensible thing would be to keep dogs out of the darling little kiddies' play area, and I have said that ever since my first posting. But the rest of the park should be left for everyone to enjoy properly, and for dogs to run free in. And the scum who won't pick up their dog mess deserve whatever punishments councils chuck at them! But DON'T bracket me in with that lot, and DON'T penalise me for something I haven't done. It is exactly the same as saying that ALL parents are selfish and irresponsible, and ALL children are vile little vandals. No difference, and just as stupid.”
by Sonny, South Notts
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:05AM
“It's very simple really, there's usually a problem to be addressed not at the canine end of the dog lead....but the subject at the other end of it.”
by Ted, Notts
Monday, September 06 2010, 8:50AM
“An amazing number of generalisations drawn from specifics. I am a responsible dog owner, therefore all dogs should roam free. Some kids have set fire to bales of hay, therefore all kids are vandals. All dog owners are chavs. All people who want to keep dogs out of play areas are fascists.
The fact is, laws are usually (not always) created to prevent a minority from adversely affecting the majority. In this case, the local authority is probably reacting to the concerns of a number of local residents. If they just ignored them they would be accused of being non-democratic.”
by Michael, Wollaton
Monday, September 06 2010, 7:59AM
“H i David I do so enjoy comments from dog haters!”
by Michael leigh, Woolaton Nottingham
Monday, September 06 2010, 7:58AM
“H i
david I do so enjoy comments from dog haters!”
by DANIEL, Wilford
Monday, September 06 2010, 6:49AM
“Having read most of the comments on here it is clear folks views are a bit like marmite, totaly for or against it.....
Lets look at the real picture, most dog owners from my experiance are very responsible caring polite and amicable folk, there is however a minority group, much smaller in scale who I have viewed on a number of occasions who have not trained their dog sufficiently for it to be safe off the lead and they make a B-line for dogs on leads and attack, this has happened to myself, with my dog suffering serious injury and requiring surgery at the vet's and further more the few who either refuse outright to clean up there dog mess or have a look about and if they think no one is looking then make a sharp exit feeling guilty....You know who you are.
It only takes seeing one dog poo on a playing field and your back is up straight away, it isnt fair to subject an area designed for childrens play to the potential of harm infection or disease when it does not have to be that way!
I think that the few lazy or stubborn have pushed it just too far now and forced the hand of the council by being unfair to the majority.
If you see someone with their dog off the lead and it is realy causing danger or an owner refusing to pick up the dog mess then phone the police, ask for an incident number and complain to the council, it does need to be addressed for the few who are spoiling an otherwise relaxing walk with our family's or walking our own dog and being responsible.....sorry for the rant.”