Park-goers in Blackpool said that needing to keep their dog on a tight leash would ‘spoil their walk’.
One couple, who have actually been going to the green space on West Park Drive for ‘many years’, said that a constraint would be unneeded.
They informed the Gazette: “95% of dog owners are responsible. If the owner thinks there’s a problem, they would have it on a lead. We’ve never come across a problem with a dog that’s off the lead.”
Unsocialised dogs must be muzzled
Another dog walker said it needs to be down to the owner to train their animal and hang out them.
“If they can’t socialise the puppy, they must be muzzled. It must be the law, and it would fix a great deal of distress.”
Personal duty
The Stanley Park routine confessed that there are some parts of the park where she would not let her dog stroll, however that it needs to be left down to the person.
“I’ve trained my dog not to go near the flowers, not to approach other dogs. He’s just thinking about his ball, and he concerns me when I provide him a hand signal. He is never ever out of my sight.”
‘Stop trying to make an example of everyone’
Irene confesses’s ‘awful what happens’ to the swans, however that many are accountable sufficient to keep their family pets far from the wildlife.
“They need to implement cameras [around the lake] and then get a handle on it. There are much bigger problems on this park. Stop trying to make an example of everyone, because that’s not acceptable. There are an awful lot of responsible dog owners [that let their dog off-lead], why tar them all with the same brush as the odd bad one?’
Recall
Another dog walker said he personally wouldn’t let his dog off-lead, as ‘he wouldn’t come back’, but that it should be allowed in some parts of the park.
Helping the wildlife
It comes as Brambles Wildlife Rescue are asking for people to contribute their opinion, as the council consider a potential Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in resort parks and green spaces.
People who use the park, in the Marton Ward, are encouraged to share specific concerns – including if there should be a designated ‘dogs off lead’ area, or if the lake should become a ‘dogs on lead’ zone.
The council may also wish to consider whether there should be designated spaces in the park where owners can let their dogs off the lead (such as the lower field and bowling green) so that other dogs can also use the park safely.
Mel Greenhalgh said: “When people say ‘why should my dog be penalised?’ perhaps those people should come and see [the injured swans]. Is it really an inconvenience to put your dogs on leads next to the lake? The time has come to meet in the middle!”
Have your say
Whether or not you concur with the requirement for modification, you can have your say at this link.
The assessment closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 27 August 2023
