Park hijacked by irresponsible dog owners

9:30am Wednesday 27th June 2012 in Letters

RECENTLY my five-year-old granddaughter and I went for a stroll on Paddington Meadows only to have to turn back almost immediately by the amount of dog mess we stood in.

Dog fouling has now reached epidemic proportions on Paddington Meadows. Informed individuals know how dangerous to health dog faeces can be to everybody. particularly children.

Do these dog owners care?

Seemingly not.

Responsible dog owners must be ashamed and embarrassed by the irresponsible behaviour of others whose wilful disregard for the health and safety of the general public tarnish the reputation of all dog owners.

Something clearly needs to be done.

This beautiful public facility is being hijacked by anti-social types yet again. I am astonished that for years there have been no signs regarding dog fouling on the meadows or indeed bins for dog owners to use.

Bins may prevent the disgusting practice of hanging dog mess in plastic bags on trees and hedges.

Why do they do this? How can we change this awful situation for the benefit of all?

I would appreciate readers views on this.

JOHN LOMAX Paddington

Daily Echo on Facebook - facebook.com/southerndailyecho Like us on Facebook

Comments(18)

choperado says...
11:14pm Wed 27 Jun 12

Find out who is responsible and drop a shovel load of it on the doorstep. Or chuck the bags on the roof and guttering. I can't think of any other cost effective way. My local area is the same and that has a bin! The ignoramous' even let them foul on the slight path they use themselves. I wonder how they even manage to dress themselves in the morning, how thick can they be?

Report this post »

Geoff Settle says...
10:11am Thu 28 Jun 12

As the Parish Path Warden for the area (Poulton with Fearnhead) I have invited Environmental and Regen Services to our next Parish Meeting to discuss the issues and present the 'Love where you Live' campaign that WBC are working on with the Keep Britain Tidy Organisation.
See http://lovewhereyoul
ive.org/warrington
The parish have been working hard to improve Larkfield Ave and its dog fouling issues that is close by.
The Warrington Nature Conservation Forum has also been campaigning for improvements to Paddington Meadows with regard to the issues you raise and the destruction that takes place there. They have just worked on similar issues at Houghton Green Pool SINC and secured a new bin (hopefully some people will use it) and maybe they can turn their attention to the meadows - I will visit the area and see what I can get started. To take action on any dog fouling a description of the dog and owner and time they walk by are needed to begin any process. Ideally education is the key but if that fails then I strongly support prosecution for serial offenders.
Finally the issue is UK wide and certainly across the Borough and it has been discussed at two Scrutiny meetings this week at the Town Hall with cross party support that a new approach must be found.
You are more than welcome to attend the next Parish Council meeting at Fearnhead Cross Community Centre on 23rd June at 7:30pm.

Report this post »

moleogod says...
10:50am Thu 28 Jun 12

letter published online on the 27th of june meeting is on the 23rd of june. just let me get in my time machine or is it meant so say 23rd july. im not taking the mick just trying to clarify

Report this post »

Geoff Settle says...
1:53pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Sorry for the confusion Parish meetings are on the 3rd Monday of the month - which means the JULY one will be on the 16th July.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
5:17pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Geoffrey, do you not need photos of any dog fouling to be able to take any action? Surely otherwise it's probably just the word of one person against the guilty owner who could easily deny any charges and say the witness was mistaken or is making a false accusation.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
5:17pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Geoffrey, do you not need photos of any dog fouling to be able to take any action? Surely otherwise it's probably just the word of one person against the guilty owner who could easily deny any charges and say the witness was mistaken or is making a false accusation.

Report this post »

old-codger says...
6:18pm Thu 28 Jun 12

The council will do nothing to stop this disgusting behavior, They cant even cut the grass on sealand close, Dog sh.t is happening all over Warrington, The majority of dog owners are fine, The minority of dog owners give a dog a bad name.

Report this post »

Geoff Settle says...
9:38pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Hi Cleo as far as I understand it the enforcement officer is the person to take action. By providing information about the dog, owner, place and frequency (time of day) they will then follow it up by whatever means that they see fit to catch the dog and owner in action. A photo may be useful.

Report this post »

frank100 says...
3:48am Fri 29 Jun 12

cleo and old codger again......mmmmm!

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
7:09am Fri 29 Jun 12

frank, lovie, have you stopped taking your medication? You know you really should keep taking it.

Report this post »

Cheap Mower says...
12:09pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Is it wise advising people to take pictures in parks?

Report this post »

Geoff Settle says...
12:20pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Fraught with danger for several reasons which is why it is best to provide the enforcement officer with good accurate information and let them get on with it.
I have however taken photos of the mess that I have sent to 'street scene' with a request for action.

Report this post »

nextdoor says...
2:23pm Fri 29 Jun 12

In Cinnamon Brow a number of new bins have popped up out of nowhere. Its great as a dog owner as I no longer have to travel far to find a bin like I used to in Peel Hall Park.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
6:17pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Well, you know, photos can be taken in a very subtle way. A way that to anybody would appear that the photographer was just taking general photos of the area.
To take a photo of a dog fouling does not mean that the photographer suddenly whips out his camera and starts snapping away when a dog squats to evacuate and he doesn't need to get up close and photograph the excrement coming out of the dog. Be sensible.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
6:17pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Well, you know, photos can be taken in a very subtle way. A way that to anybody would appear that the photographer was just taking general photos of the area.
To take a photo of a dog fouling does not mean that the photographer suddenly whips out his camera and starts snapping away when a dog squats to evacuate and he doesn't need to get up close and photograph the excrement coming out of the dog. Be sensible.

Report this post »

choperado says...
9:43pm Mon 2 Jul 12

Cleo, quite often you say things twice. Do you think people don't listen first time or are you having a tipple when writing in?
Regards the dog mess, it's safer all round to simply pass on a good description rather than trying to relive the days of the Famous Five.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
2:44pm Tue 3 Jul 12

It's all down to my rather over sensitive mouse.

Report this post »

Cleopatra says...
2:57pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Well, you know, there was once this man who at the same time twice a day, every day, would park his car and get out with a 'mop on a rope' and he would procede to walk this mop up and down the grass verge outside my house untill the thing had done it's business, then back into the car and drove off, leaving the sh1t where it had been dropped.
Eventually I decided enough was enough and I told this man instead of bringing his dog to do it's business outside my home, spoiling my environment, to let it do it in his own area. I also told him that the next time he paid a call here I woulld be ready with my camera and take photographs as evidence when I reported him to the authorities. I never did see him or his dog again after that.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree