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Dog-free parks at risk
• Did you know that Islington Council intends to open all green spaces (including currently dog-free parks) for the exercising of dogs off the lead, unless that area is a designated playground or sports pitch. This includes areas such as Thornhill Square, Gibson Square, Canonbury Square, Battishill Street Gardens and Compton Terrace Gardens.
Dog faeces are a danger to small children and it is important to the development of our children that there are areas in which they can play without crawling in dog mess (not just surfaced play areas). I would also be nervous of letting my toddler away from my side in a park where untrained dogs were allowed off the lead.
I am a dog owner and I support allowing dogs off the lead in areas where they are currently allowed to do so – but not everywhere.
Fines are unlikely to keep these areas entirely mess-free, and there are never going to be enough wardens to tell owners to put unruly dogs back on the lead. The only way to keep these areas open to our children is to ensure they remain dog-free.
The council has hidden this change of use in a consultation that asks no-brainer questions such as: “To what extent do you agree or disagree that dog owners should be made responsible for cleaning up their dogs’ mess?”
Duh!
To see the consultation, go to www.islington.gov.uk/Environment/animal_welfare/responsible_dog_ownership.asp.
Readers can protest to Liz Anyanwu at dogs.consultation@islington.gov.uk or call her on 020 7527 7613.
Kay Leedham-Green
Address supplied
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