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Dog walkers reject councillor's lead suggestion




Greenham parish councillor, Diane Smith, said pets should be kept on a lead at Greenham Common

DOG walkers have rejected a suggestion raised by a Greenham parish councillor that they should keep their pets on a lead at Greenham Common.

Councillor Diane Smith raised the idea at a meeting of Greenham Parish Council last Wednesday, in order, she said, to protect wildlife such as ground nesting birds on the common and also because she said the presence of dogs added extra pressure on a delicate eco system.

“There is currently a colour-coding system in place, but dogs can't read and sometimes they still disturb nesting birds and other animals,” said Mrs Smith.

“The vast majority of owners are responsible, but the problem is not just that the dogs go where they want, what they leave behind also has an impact on the common.”

She said that she thought a new by-law should be introduced to stipulate that dogs are not allowed to run free on the common, and suggested dog owners would instead be able to use the nearby site known as the methane fields, between Equine Way and Haysom's Drive in Greenham, for dog walking.

There is currently a by-law in place which requires dog owners to keep their dogs on leads during the nesting season, but this is not enforced.

But when Newburytoday.co.uk asked people at Greenham Common this week about the idea, most reacted in disbelief at the suggestion to keep their pets on a lead.

One dog owner, Jane Brant, said: “You cannot bring a dog up here and keep him on a lead, it's like taking a child to a sweet shop and not giving him anything.”

Another, Carole Whyte, said: “I know the methane field, it's not big enough and there is a big road nearby, it's not suitable for large dogs.”

While another who asked not to be named, simply said: “Let them just try and enforce it.”

But it was not only dog walkers who were opposed to the idea; The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), which is responsible for maintaining wildlife on the common also said the rules should be left as they were.

BBOWT spokeswoman Jackie Akam said: “That is not the way to achieve protection of wildlife. You have to work with people, not against them.

“We feel that the current system (where certain areas are marked as off limits) works well and people respect it.”

Commoners rights at Greenham Common, once a US military airbase, were extinguished in 1991, but were reinstated under an act of parliament, The Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002.

West Berkshire Council also said it had no intention on changing the by-laws.

And Greenham Parish Council chairman Tony Forward distanced himself from Mrs Smith's comments and said it was only her suggestion, rather than the parish council's.



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