Areas where ban enforced
PLANS are being put forward to ban dogs from 26 children’s play areas in West Lancashire. West Lancashire Borough Council has made the proposal in order to help keep children safe and reduce problems with dog fouling.
The council is also planning to require dogs to be kept on leads in five specified areas in public parks and playing fields.
Dogs are already excluded from 43 children’s play areas operated by the borough council and parish councils.
The penalty for breaching the restrictions will be a fixed penalty notice of £75, or a court fine not exceeding £1,000.
Councillor Kevin Wright, portfolio holder for health and community safety, said: “Dogs are already excluded from 43 children’s play areas under Dog Control Orders introduced by the council in 2009. These restrictions have been successful in keeping these areas safe for children.
“Now we propose to introduce similar restrictions in other play areas in the borough, and in addition to impose restrictions requiring dogs to be kept on leads in five other locations.
“I encourage people to visit the website to find out where these play areas are, and to give their views, so they can be taken into account when the council meets in December to make decisions.”
Some of the parks proposed in the ban are Coronation Park in Ormskirk, Pickles Drive in Burscough, Stanley Coronation Park in Old Skelmersdale and Chequer Lane in Up Holland.
Local residents, visitors and organisations are now invited to give their views on the proposals so they can be taken into account before final decisions are made.
Responses to the potential ban have been mixed and readers have posted their views to Facebook.
Ann Percy said: “Surely could have one area of each park as dog-free children’s area, and allow the rest of the park to be used by children and dogs. Surely parks are an ideal place to walk dogs?”
Others completely agreed with the ban despite the response against it.
Malcolm Rimmer said: “There’s so many incidents now with irresponsible owners and their dogs that make a family walk in a park a threat. People can’t even pick up dog dirt and although its a shame that it’s a minority, it’s that minority that is putting lives at risk as the recent dog attacks in Ainsdale have proved.
“I’m certainly no dog hater, and until recently was the owner of a lovely dog we had for almost 17 years until he passed away, and I for one had my share of run-ins with irresponsible owners who now seem to be more and more frequent in our parks.”
What do you think about the proposed ban? Let us know by emailing visiternews@southportvisiter. co.uk THE 26 children’s play areas from which West Lancs Council proposes to ban dogs are: Ormskirk Coronation Park, Ormskirk Halsall Lane, Ormskirk Westend, Ormskirk Mawdesley Terrace, Ormskirk Burscough Pickles Drive, Burscough Rees Park, Burscough Richmond Park, Burscough Skelmersdale Banksbarn, Digmoor Alderley, Little Digmoor Belvedere Way, Aughton Fairhaven, Birch Green Helmsdale, Birch Green Inglewhite, Birch Green Stanley Coronation Park, Old Skelmersdale Tanfields, New Church Farm Evington, Tanhouse Ennerdale, Tanhouse Abbeystead, Little Digmoor Greenhill, Old Skelmersdale
Up Holland, Westhead, Bickerstaffe, Hilldale, Scarisbrick
Beacon Country Park, Up Holland Chequer Lane, Up Holland Beacon Park golf club, Up Holland Westhead (School Lane) Hilldale Playing Field Bickerstaffe Playing Field Daisy Way, Scarisbrick
The five areas where West Lancs Council proposes dogs must be kept on a lead are: Part of Beacon Country Park Part of Coronation Park, Ormskirk
Stanley Coronation Park, Skelmersdale
St Helens Road Park, Ormskirk
Alder Lane playing fields, Parbold