Dog owner fights lead proposal
Concerned Oswestry dog owner Anne Richardson is fighting plans to stop the animals being let off their leads.
Concerned Oswestry dog owner Anne Richardson is fighting plans to stop the animals being let off their leads.
Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, due to be brought into force in the Oswestry borough in October, it could become an offence not to have dogs on leads in certain areas.
Powers under the act, which are out for public consultation, give borough, town and parish councils new powers to stamp out a range of dog offences, including dog fouling, under its Dog Control orders.
They also provide for fixed penalty notices of up to £80 on those who flout the law by dropping litter, fly posting, graffiti, and abandoning vehicles.
But Mrs Richardson has written a letter of objection to Oswestry Borough Council about the proposed Dog Control Orders.
Under the orders, people could fall foul of the law in a number of instances, including if their dog is not kept on a lead at any time on any land within the order and if more than one dog at any time is taken onto any open public land in the borough.
Mrs Richardson said: "I am objecting to the proposal it will be an offence for dogs not to be on a lead in all public areas including public open spaces, such as the Racecourse and playing fields. I assume this is to limit the amount of dog mess in these areas.
"I agree this is a difficulty, but I think the council is naive if it is of the opinion this will alleviate the problem.
"Those dog owners who do not clear up after their pets will still not do so even if the dog is on the lead.
"Dogs need to exercise properly to be able to run and burn off energy. They need areas safe and away from traffic and that often means using those exact places the council is trying to restrict access to.
"If existing laws were more rigorously applied and maximum fines given out, people would think twice about not clearing up."
The council is seeking views on the Act.
David Jones, the council's director of regulatory services and community services, today said it hopes to have a final draft by September 25 with the aim of introducing the Act in October.
By Antonia Merola