Chevin crackdown threat unless dog-owners take responsibility (From Wharfedale Observer)

Chevin crackdown threat unless dog-owners take responsibility

8:20am Sunday 14th February 2010

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A crackdown on dog walking on Otley Chevin could be on the cards unless owners clean up after their pets.

Chevin Estate Officer Richard Marsh is warning that enforcing a dogs-on-leads policy near all of the forest park’s main entrances and limiting the number of dogs that can be walked by one person will both be considered if the situation doesn’t improve.

Mr Marsh’s tough comments are just part of the snowballing support that has been shown for the recently launched Muck:up! campaign to rid Otley’s streets of dog waste.

He said: “It is not acceptable to allow dogs to foul anywhere on The Chevin. There seems to be an attitude that if your dog is off the lead and away from a path it is okay to let it foul in the wider countryside.

“But with such a popular place as The Chevin there are school groups that carry out activities away from the paths, conservation volunteers and estate workers carrying out heathland and woodland management, and many other people wanting to walk through the woods or meadows without stepping in dog mess.

“If you are seen not clearing up your dog’s mess you will be fined. We have polite information on our notice boards asking people to be responsible dog-walkers, and additional signs at dog-fouling hot-spots.

“We also supply dog bins near all main entrances, which we have the unpleasant job of emptying twice per week.

“Dog owners are aware that their dog is most likely to foul within the first five minutes of arriving.

“We ask all dog-walkers to stay near their dog for at least this time to pick up any mess, but it seems a common sight to see dogs getting out of cars and going straight into the park where their owners can not see what they are doing.”

He added: “Although we get requests to put more dog bins at every single entrance and every few hundred metres we believe it is not too much effort to carry your dog mess back to a dog bin near the car parks.

“It is a shame that the irresponsible dog owners let the responsible ones down. If the problem of dog fouling does not improve we may have to consider additional measures such as limiting the number of dogs walked per person and enforcing a dogs-on-leads policy near all main entrances.

“Leeds City Council staff on The Chevin are also in discussion with the dog wardens to receive training to issue fines to anyone not clearing up after their dogs.”

Otley parent Helen Page, has highlighted the serious problems dog mess can cause to anyone using a pushchair or wheelchair.

Mrs Page, who runs the Wharfedale and Aireborough Twins Club and has chronic fatigue syndrome, so sometimes has to use a hand-pushed chair, said: “I am utterly and completely behind the campaign.

“We have four children including 18-month-old twins who have to be pushed in a double push-chair, so with that you have no chance of avoiding dog muck.

"And my husband, Adam, is visually impaired and has sometimes slipped in it and almost fallen over which he really doesn’t need.

“I use a self-propelled wheelchair and of course whatever the wheels go over comes back to your hands so it really isn't nice.

“I’m also a Brownies leader and we regularly have to check for dog muck when I take the children to the park which just isn’t right – we shouldn’t have to.”

Muck: up!, which was started by another concerned Otley parent, Sara Quin, has now launched an online petition which can be signed by visiting petitiononline.com/mu2010/petition.html.

Support has flooded in for the campaign – which is currently running a design a poster competition for local children - since it started a few weeks ago, with schools, sports clubs, health workers and politicians all getting behind it. To find out more visit muckup.org.uk.

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