Removal of dedicated dog area in John Coles Park.

Dog walkers in John Coles Park.

Are you aware that the dedicated dog area is to be dismantled on Jan 17th 2011. If so (or not) do you agree or disagree ?

Personally I disagree for the following reasons :

1. It provides an area where young or submissive dogs can be walked away from others who may frighten the younger ones.
2. It encourages dogs to defaecate in a specific area (where it can be cleaned up easily & safely).
3. There was no consultation with the ratepayer/dog owner/walker at all - apparently the decision was made at an internal Park Staff meeting.

I'm sure there are other reasons why this should not happen.

What do you think ?

By bigblukiwi at 17:32 on 09/12/10

Re-post

We can't let this happen. It's too important.

I've heard it's to be turned into a picnic area. I don't think the park keepers even have the authority for this change of use.

This area has been a dedicated dog area for at least 6 years. As not everyone cleans up after their dog the soil is impregnated with their waste. Dogs will still defaecate in this area either because they have been trained to do so or because of the smell of other dogs.

We need a safe area for our dogs to go off lead and the dog pen provides this. Not all dogs have recall. Some are too aggressive to be let off lead in the main park. It's a great place for puppies to socialize with other dogs. We've had 10 dogs playing in there.

During the summer and on Sundays when the weather is nice the park is full of children and picnickers. Not all dogs can be trusted to keep away from food and not all are good with children. Some children are not good with dogs. So the dogs get taken to the pen.

If we want to keep the pen we must be prepared to fight for it. Write to the newspapers, contact local councilors. If we don't, we will lose it.

By k9carer at 19:12 on 10/12/10
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I have had an email exchange with 'Adrian' on the Council and he's turned me down flat, saying (roughly), get lost, we've made the decision so that's it.

By bigblukiwi at 20:46 on 10/12/10
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I've drawn a blank with Adrian Jones so am now writing to my local councillor Desna Allen

desna.allen@wiltshire.gov.uk

who I believe is the representative for the Park area.

to ask for more detail, particularly the minutes of the meeting at which this decision was made, and the factors that were taken into account.

I spoke to one Park staff member who said he was not aware of any staff meeting at which this was discussed. He was unaware of any discussion that took place & in his opinion, the decision was taken by ' those at the top '.

Anybody reading this, please write to your Councillor, and raise the issue if you disagree with the decision, even if only on the grounds of lack of consultation.

By bigblukiwi at 17:50 on 16/12/10
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There cannot be any minutes of a meeting as the Town councilors were not responsible for the decision to remove the dog pen. They found out about it by email. I'm acquainted with a couple of councilors and one of them told me this. Adrian Jones is the new head of Parks and amenities and is the person responsible for this decision.

There is a facebook group campaigning for keeping the dog pen. It's also been suggested we get a petition going. Most importantly, all those in favour of keeping the dog pen need to phone Adrian Jones. You can email me for his office phone number if you need it at celticshaman at tiscali dot co dot uk.

By k9carer at 19:45 on 28/12/10
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what's the Facebook page please so I can join.

By bigblukiwi at 16:32 on 29/12/10
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Here's the facebook url: http://tinyurl.com/23cgfr4

By k9carer at 19:26 on 31/12/10
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Please come along to next week's council meeting - Amenities - to raise your concerns.

Wed, 12 Jan, 7pm – council offices, upstairs
Agenda Item 10 Project Report

The council can only make decision residents want/like if they hear from residents.

I'll be making a statement supporting some public consultation on the dog enclosure to ensure the park continues to provide facilities residents want and need.

Lorraine Roberts-Rance
Park Ward Councillor
Chippenham Town Council

By lorraineRR at 10:32 on 06/01/11
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