Gate to prevent dogs threatening cyclists to be installed in Thatcham park

Town councillors divided after one resident complains

ONE person’s complaint about dogs chasing people near a Thatcham park has led to a gate being installed.

And spending money on a lone request divided opinion among Thatcham town councillors at a meeting last week.

The safety improvement came after the un-named cyclist said that dogs often ran out of the Pound Lane playground as she cycled along Arkle Avenue.

In a letter to the town council, the woman said that many dogs in the playground were not on leashes. She said: “I have also witnessed dogs run out chasing pedestrians passing by. I find it unacceptable that the dogs threaten pedestrians and cyclists on Arkle Avenue. Dogs chasing people in this way is an hostile act.

“People who walk and play with their dogs in the Pound Lane playground will not keep their dogs on leashes.”

She urged town councillors to install a gate at the Arkle Avenue entrance to the playground to protect pedestrians and cyclists

Discussing the request at last week’s meeting Ellen Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said that spending £266 on one person’s complaint worried her. She was supported by John Cheliah (Con, Thatcham West) who asked: “Are we then setting a precedent? Do we establish something that’s going to be the norm?”

Saying that her dog “had a problem with tyres” and could tear them off, Julie Goode (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said that a dog rushing upon a cyclist would be an intimidating experience.

And after hearing that the gate would lower the risk to cyclists, walkers and children Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said that the town council should improve safety where it could.

He said: “The fact that it’s only one person is not entirely relevant. If one person has a good idea you don’t ignore it.

“We have the decision rights here and if we think other requests are trivial we don’t have to approve them.”