Dog lovers' delight at victory
Dog walkers will be able to let their pets off the lead in Oswestry's two main parks after a public outcry when hundreds of people signed petitions. Dog walkers will be able to let their pets off the lead in Oswestry's two main parks after a public outcry when hundreds of people signed petitions. Hordes of people packed into Oswestry's Borough Council chamber last night as council bosses put forward a recommendation to amend a draft of the Dog Control Orders. The draft act had said people could fall foul of the law if they let their dogs off leads in areas of Oswestry - including The Old Racecourse and Ifton Meadows in St Martins. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Hordes of people packed into Oswestry's Borough Council chamber last night as council bosses put forward a recommendation to amend a draft of the Dog Control Orders.
Hundreds signed petitions and sent dozens of letters of concern about the proposals.
The draft act said people could fall foul of the law if they let their dogs off leads in areas of Oswestry - including The Old Racecourse and Ifton Meadows in St Martins.
Objectors believed that the proposals were too restrictive and in response to the consultation, the director of community services and assistant chief executive, Dave Jones, asked councillors delete The Old Racecourse and Ifton Meadows from the draft order.
Councillor Neil Graham said that "common sense had prevailed", following the news of the amendment.
He added that both Ifton Meadows and The Old Racecourse were "lovely areas of open space".
But although councillors agreed to go ahead with the recommendation, concerns were also raised on whether the new legislation could actually be properly enforced, especially when it came to dog fouling.
It is planned that Community Support Officers would give those flouting the law fixed penalty notices, which councillors agreed was not a tough enough penalty.
Councillor Martin Bennett said: "Is it going to be enforceable with all the other things CSOs have to do? It is pointless to have legislation if it not going to make a difference."
