Dogs welcome on beach if controlled says online poll
A survey of almost 700 residents of East Meath has voted by a majority of 75% NOT to ban dogs off leads on the beaches.
Instead, most people who replied said the current By-Laws would be adequate, it they were enforced.
In the online opinion poll conducted on behalf of the Beach Management Committee of Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington, 665 people responded to four separate questions about how dogs should be managed on the strands.
Over 500 thought that enforcing the existing By-Laws, requiring dogs to be under control and owners to be subject to fines for dog fouling, would be the best option.
15% or 100 people felt dogs should be on leads at all times, 8% thought a zoning solution would be better (I.e dogs should be on a lead at all times on the beach between Bettystown and Mornington, and for other areas only from September to March) and a tiny 1% thought dogs on the beach should only be on leads September to March, as per the forthcoming policy.
“Of course, we have no power to bring in changes – that is down to Meath County Council – but we want to know the opinion of local people, and this is a good way to get that,” says chair of the committee Alan Watson, a lifelong resident of Laytown.
“We wanted it to be fair and open, so we got a company to conduct it for us, and we made sure there were no double-up in voting, and they were all different and legitimate.”
It is proposed in the council beach management plan that all dogs should be kept on leads on the beaches at all times, without exception.
However, the opinion poll shows that most residents feel that if the current rules were enforced, there would be no need for drastic measures.
“It all really boils down to the need for a full-time warden, who can respond and react to concerns, and issue fines,“adds Alan.
“If the existing By-Laws were being enforced – especially when it comes to horses on the beach, and dog fouling - chances are we wouldn’t be in the situation where they would need to be changed!”
Another proposal is in relation to the protection of wildlife and the impact animals on the beach has.
There are two Special Protection Areas – near the Nanny and the Boyne Estuary - and it is proposed dogs be kept leashed there at all time.
However, there are many comments accompanying the survey which point out the recent figures which have shown a large increase in numbers, so they must be doing something right!
“If the wildlife is om the rise for the first time in years, well it’s happening with the current situation, so it can’t be all that bad,” points out Alan.
“We are delighted that the council cares about the future of the beaches, which is our goal too, and we hope they aknowledge that a lot feel enforcement by a warden of the current By-Laws would be an ideal solution.”