Dogs ban on walks to stay

Dogs have been officially banned from walks organised by South Shropshire Ramblers' Association because they are a "nuisance" and can "frighten" cattle.

About 20 years after dogs were first banned from the walks, members of the group put forward a motion that they be allowed to join in, but it was defeated by a massive 26 to six in a vote.

The annual general meeting of the South Shropshire Group of the Ramblers' Association decided to uphold the ban on walks as they felt it would be dangerous to allow dogs to join in.

Some members who felt it was time to let dogs back in on the action put forward the motion.

Vice-chairman and countryside secretary, John Nisbet, said part of the motion was to reconsider the move at next year's annual general meeting, but that was also declined. Although he said there would be nothing to stop someone suggesting the idea again next year.

A motion suggesting group leaders be allowed to bring their dogs was also lost by a similar margin.

Mr Nisbet said: "The effort to allow dogs back was defeated. I think the general feeling is that dogs can be an awful nuisance.

"They can run between walkers' legs and cattle don't like dogs. It means if dogs are let off their leads there is the danger of cattle attacking us. Sheep are also frightened of dogs."

The south Shropshire group holds about two walks a week.

There are approximately 200 members.

The group takes in walks across the whole of Shropshire, and county-wide there are are around 1,300 members. The Ramblers' Association is Britain's biggest walking organisation.