Walker hits out at woof justice of dog rules
THE owner of seven dogs has labelled new dog control orders unfair and called for a rethink.
Additional dog control orders were adopted by Rossendale’s full council meeting on July 17.
The Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) included two new restrictions, the mandatory carrying of ‘poop bags’ by dog walkers and a limit on the maximum number of dogs to be walked at one time of five.
Carolyn Sheridan owns five collies - including three rescues - which she often walks at the same time as two schnauzers owned by partner David Tomlinson.
She says the orders, which can lead to a fixed penalty notice of £75 or even prosecution, will penalise responsible multiple dog owners as well as dog walking businesses.
Carolyn said: “From my point of view it’s very frus
trating. All my dogs are trained and if I see anyone coming I put them straight on a lead.
“We nearly always walk all of the dogs together unless one of them is ill.
“It’s a shame we will be penalised and not be able to walk them all at once.
“They’re very well behaved and one of them even comes back with rubbish. They are all well trained; there’s no way I could have that many dogs if I hadn’t trained them.
“It’s about being sensible, that’s all.”
Carolyn, from Bacup, says they tend to walk their dogs in quiet parts of the Valley countryside, over Lobden and also the quarry.
She added: “If somebody has got over five dogs and they’re out of control they shouldn’t have five dogs in the first place. I’ve always got about 50 poo bags. It tends to be the ones who sneak out at midnight with one dog and no poo bag.”
In a general statement, the council said a range of PSPOs would give them more powers to deal more effectively with ‘irresponsible dog owners’. They include such things as not picking up dog mess, not carrying poo bags and not putting dogs on a lead when instructed to by an authorised officer.
Coun Steve Hughes, cabinet member for communities, said: “Our borough is dog-friendly and we want everyone to enjoy our wonderful parks and public spaces. Most dog owners are responsible and dog walkers add to the variety of any park.
“But unfortunately a minority spoil it for everyone. Dog fouling is a constant issue which residents are fed up of and these orders give us powers to tackle the selfish few who thoughtlessly do not control their dogs and inflict misery on others. Most responsible dog owners will agree that these new powers will help with the issues created by the irresponsible few.”
An enforcement review is planned for October.
WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
OWNER’S regret as award-winning Dearden Tea Rooms shut (July 12):
Pauline Aspinall: What a shame, we really enjoyed coming to all your different venues, especially the Alice and Mad Hatters Tea Party, it was AMAZING. Thank you all and good luck in the future. Vera Walker: Very sad x Rachel Pepper: We will have to rethink our plans, such a shame x Phyl Stephenson: Ohh how sad...I liked it there.
ADDITIONAL dog control orders including mandatory carrying of ‘poop bags’ and a maximum of five dogs walked at one time (July 12):
Michele Parker: Only 230 responses! I wish the council would look at the real issues in the valley! In addition I often pick up another dog’s poo that someone has forgotten ! Alison Andrews: Would love to know where we can and cannot walk dogs and where we have to have leads on or can let them free. We always pick up after out pup but he needs to run so would be great of there were maps of fields etc where leads weren’t needed Michaela Howard Holt: In response to “The Scribbler’s” view that owners who allow their dogs to foul should be banned from ownership. Where exactly does this person live? Cuckoo land? Where exactly does he think the dogs would go? To a shelter? Good luck with that one. Bev A Cook: I often have my son’s two dogs so I walk 6 including my 4. This is going to make life difficult, especially as I have them all under control. Lisa Marie Haworth: Own a pet carry poop bags like if you have a baby carry nappies. Fiona Quint: Like the police haven’t got enough to do! Excuse me madam, but under new laws I’d like to stop and search you for poo bags. Trevor Mayor: The proposals sound great. Now let’s see RBC enforce them, or is the survey just another waste of the council tax payers money? Andrew Cahill: Stacksteads rec and surrounding paths are always covered. Any past plans have not worked at all, what makes this one special? People are not going to stick to these rules due to no enforcement. Kelly Reeves: How can you have a dog and not carry a poo bag? Christine Mcgown: The ones that don’t pick up dog poo still wont. Making someone carry a poo bag doesn’t change anything and don’t get me started on the ones who do pick it up then throw the bag in the bushes. John Pitt: Rules that aren’t enforced are worthless. BowWowMiaow Doggy Day Care: Dropping the number of dogs that are walked at once from 6 to 5 is not going to change anything in the way the people support this campaign think it is. All it’s going to do is penalise responsible pet owners and pet care businesses, as well as penalise dog walking customers by forcing a huge price rise. The irresponsible owners/ pet care businesses who this is directed at won’t be affected at all. Joe Blogs who always lets his 1 dog poop on the corner of his street will continue to do so, and irresponsible dog walking businesses will continue to walk too many dogs at once anyway, like they do now. It’s merely a gesture by the council to show they are trying to do something to solve this problem. I’m not quite sure what the solution is but this is not it. Libby Baker: When I am walking my dogs in the beautiful Rossendale country side (and using my poo bags) I am astounded by the amount of litter people throw out of their cars and into fields. Top of Burnley Road East by the reservoir and crown point road is littered with fly tipping, plastic and general litter. Some humans need to get a grip of taking their litter home, they are just as capable as dog owners are of clearing up
COUNCIL leader says ‘the bottom has fallen out of retail’ after plans for major retail element within Spinning Point redevelopment ditched (July 19):
Bev Armitage: Who owns the luxury spa? And why would you visit one in a town centre? For me a luxury spa is a treat, in a beautiful location with scenery and gardens, definitely not a bus shelter no matter how new! I’m not knocking Rawtenstall, it’s a lovely town with small businesses, micro pubs, restaurants etc. We need more individual businesses, independent retailers. I agree with the person who said build the retail units and rent them at low cost to new businesses initially. The town needs somewhere for people to spend their money, not a blooming spa Nigel Scholes Harper: Great news Mrs Barnes, we have all the shops we need. What we do want is the cinema, swimming pools and recreational ie bowling, lazer quest and the town square improving as an events space Graham Lowthion: So Mrs Barnes says the bottom has dropped out of retail, yet Rawtenstall is buzzing! A great boost statement for all the Valley’s retailers, along with turning the market into a food fest, what plans do this misguided administration have now? Keeley Love: And this is from Alyson who couldn’t blow enough fairy dust about how fab the shops or Spinning Point was going to be. Who even has the money to use a luxury spa? James Peter Sanderson: So basically what has been decided is that the town square should be turned into a block of flats and a spa. Well done yet again. Really love how the bottom’s fallen out of retail suddenly after building an out of town shopping complex which has been against all evidence of what is good for the high street for at least 15 years. Keith Trickett: We have known this for years Linsey Blunt: Homes keep getting put up in Rawtenstall but there is not enough doctors, dentists and school places for the people that already live here, and where some of the new homes are being put is stupid, if you want to add to the town’s population you as a council need to sort the essentials out. Mohammed Abdullah: Best option would have been for the council to move the Rawtenstall market to the ‘Spinning Point’, the old Astoria and pedestrianise Bank Street and leave the market as a big car park for people to park and come into the town Janet Golden: Well now there’s a surprise! Rose Greenwood: Posting here too because I think it’s important! Do something for the young people! Honestly. Our young people need a centre somewhere with a variety of things going on - active / arty / musical / drama etc etc. Then maybe, with a creatively driven up and coming generation, we might get more imaginative council leaders in the future. Scott Sawicz: So that’s a residential complex that will be unaffordable for valley folk, bought by people as a buy to let development then. Simon Butterworth: Redesign the open space to attract open air events and activities, that won’t cost £6 million, but please sort out the horrendous traffic. Gary Cunliffe: But yet still going with the spa idea. Just leave it as a open space and stop trying to make Rawtenstall in to a little Bury, it isn’t. Just make it in to a better Rawtenstall where events can happen in the centre with a proper space and parking. Nigel Scholes Harper: Move the market to the square and put that fire station to the market plot and sort out the dreadful island for traffic flow Abdul Mannan: Leave the place as a town square, it’s good as it is James Robson: The nightlife in Rawtenstall is creeping back to its glory days due to the successes of Bees Knees, Northern Whisper, Tiger Lounge, The Ugly Duckling, The Blind Tiger and a few others; why not introduce some nice restaurants and wine bars? Much more appealing than a Luxury Spa Carly Stevens: I’m glad. More social space, more greenery, trees and more parking. Also it supports our existing independent retailers who are keeping it local. Win/win. Rachel Porter: I don’t see what’s wrong with leaving it as an open space used for community events. Give some space to A’Vucciria for outdoor seating and maybe have some pop-up food and drink huts Dennis Taylor: There’s a spa just up the road on the M65, not sure Rawtenstall needs one Lizzie Riley-Haworth: Was that not blatantly obvious when they were knocking down the old shopping centre?
LUCARDO in Rawtenstall the best in the country ranked by reviews (July 12):
Rachel Smith: We loved it! Jack Eastwood: Brilliant news! It’s a great asset Helen Cooper: Congratulations Simon - well deserved! Kimi Taylor: We loved our game of corruption here and we have booked both university of magic and gem runner for our next games. Well done Lucardo, a real gem in Rawtenstall.
TWO months on from management change: Rawtenstall market on the up (July 19):
Janet O’Driscoll: The market is a credit to Jane and Mrs Toolbox. It’s definitely improved and a lovely place to visit. Jack Eastwood: Great news and a great decision to have it managed externally. Well done to all involved! Alex Chan: Well done Jane keep up the good work. Great management calls and it appears to be slowly turning things around! Wild Marnie: It’s a lot more aesthetically pleasing and welcoming and plenty of light. Joseph Dempsey: Currently at the Nano brewery and it’s really good! Hopefully it will become a mainstay. Asked the bartender and they’re not sure how long they’ll be open for Graham Lowthion: Please come and take Haslingden Market on as well.