 Councillor Jan Fuller |
Current priorities and concernsAs a member of both East Area Planning and the Planning Committee, I am aware of the concerns regarding overdevelopment in Oxshott and Stoke D'Abernon. If you need any advice regarding a Planning Application, please contact me on 01372 844167 or email jfuller@elmbridge.gov.uk.
Dog Control Orderscontact: Cllr Mrs Jan Fuller
Dear local resident, RE: Objection to the Dog Control Orders Proposed by Elmbridge Borough Council. Thank you for your recent copy of the objection letter in which you expressed concern about the proposed Dog Control Orders. Clearly, whoever wrote the original letter did not fully understand the current consultation exercise, or how the Dog Control Orders may apply if they were ever introduced in Elmbridge. Dog Control Orders can give powers to local authorities under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. The Council is currently consulting on the possibility of introducing elements of the Dog Control Orders to the Borough. Once the results of the consultation are known, elected members will consider which, if any, elements they would wish to see implemented in Elmbridge. This has been discussed with the Council's Countryside Consultative Group and approved by meetings of the Community Affairs Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet and will again be considered by these committees before any decision is made. To clarify some of the points raised in the standard letter for the avoidance of doubt- 1. The current consultation proposes the keeping of dogs on leads within 100 metres of countryside car parks. This has been suggested to reduce possible accidents with both cars and pedestrians at the time when the dog is likely to be at its most excitable having just left it's owner's car. Furthermore, if agreed, it is proposed that dogs would have to be kept on a lead, when entering heathland areas where protected ground nesting birds such as Nightjar and Woodlark are found to be breeding. This element was specifically requested to be added to the consultation by Natural England. During the bird-nesting season only, any identified areas with ground nesting birds will be clearly shown on maps which will be positioned on site around the areas where dogs would be required to be kept on a lead when entering the area. In areas on the commons where protected birds are not found to be nesting, and also outside the bird-nesting season, dogs will not be required to be on a lead. 2. The frequent use of ponds by dogs can have a detrimental impact on the diversity of the pond. Dogs inadvertently trample pond plants and animals when entering a pond. Dogs can also disturb the sediment in the pond, making the ponds constantly cloudy; aquatic plants cannot grow, and pond animal diversity declines. Most pond invertebrates need to see to feed, for example dragonfly larvae. Another problem is through increasing the spread of non-native plant species such as blanket weed from other ponds. Small parts of plants are often carried between ponds on dog's paws. 3. There are no proposals to insist that dogs are placed on leads at all times in recreation areas and open spaces which has been widely misquoted. The proposals relating to recreation grounds are consulting on the introduction of dog control orders for failing to remove faeces, excluding dogs from areas including fenced children's play areas, fenced sports areas such as tennis courts and also in the event that a dog is considered to represent a danger to the public. They maybe instructed to place a dog on a lead by direction of a duly authorised officer. This will occur on land where community events and regular sports events take place, such as junior football pitches. 4. The Council's Countryside Consultative Group considered the issue of Professional dog walkers and raised concerns about the growth in professional dog walking agencies walking large numbers of dogs, and that the restrictions in place in other areas may have displaced dog walkers to Elmbridge sites. 5. At this stage, the consultation has not been completed and as such no decisions have been taken to decide which, if any of the Dog Control Order elements would be introduced in Elmbridge. It is not anticipated that there will be the need for additional staff resources as the legislation states that any authorised officer of the Council could enforce any orders enacted, this could include the existing Countryside Rangers and our grounds maintenance contractors who are out on site on a daily basis. At this point no decisions have been made and the Council would welcome the views of the community on each element of the order. The consultation period is taking place from 1 October 2009 to 30 November 2009 to enable Elmbridge Borough Council to receive representation from dog owners and non-dog owners on the proposed Dog Control Orders. For more information, or to have your say please visit: |http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/leisure/parks/dogs.htm I trust this clarifies the position for you. Yours sincerely Cllr Mrs Jan Fuller |
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