Harry's wrong about dog fouling problem (From Warrington Guardian)

Harry's wrong about dog fouling problem

DOG fouling is not a problem on a Northwich field, according to a woman who enjoys walking there.

Pensioner Harry Rea raised concerns about the field, which is opposite his Bowden Drive home, in the Guardian two weeks ago and appealed for the community to support him in the fight against dog fouling.

He expressed his disgust about dog walkers who allow their pets to go to the toilet on the field but do not clean up after them.

Harry said he has seen children playing there and he is concerned for their health.

But a 55-year-old Northwich woman, who did not wish to be named, said that Harry's impression of the field was different to hers.

She agreed that owners should clean up after their dogs, especially on roads, pavements and verges, but did not think that this was a problem on the field.

The resident said: "It's an old field that's used for cows to graze on and foxes and hedgehogs go on there - where do you draw the line?

"It's not a big problem and the field is not saturated in dog poo - in this weather it disintegrates and in the summer months the slugs devour it.

"I walked around it the other day and around the path where the grass is worn. I only saw two lots."

"It's also very rare that children play on the field."

She suggested the field was an important piece of greenery in Northwich, which people enjoy to walk around.

And she added: "You need a nice grassy area that people walk on, and the field is lovely to walk around and relax in - it's a bit of countryside in the middle of town.

"There are more important things going on in the world to worry about."