2 comments

• Comment Link Tuesday, 01 December 2009 18:07 posted by Administrator

  an email from the council
  
  I understand that you have been in touch with Stephanie Williams, Animal Welfare Officer regarding changing the status of Bedford Square to become dog friendly.
  
  Bedford Square has historically been a dog exclusion area, and when the city created dog control orders that replaced the dog bylaws in January 2009, the historic exclusion status of the square was maintained.
  
  The new dog scheme was resolved by full Council, following an open, public Cabinet Members Meeting and Cabinet route for decision making.
  
  During the consultation process in 2007 and 2008, there was intense media and citizen interest, including petitions. There were two consultations, with the second one dealing with the recommendations and outcomes of the first one.
  
  The consultations, which complied with best practice guidelines, engaged the open spaces forum, City News, the Evening Argus, the Citizen Panel, local television news and used posters, leaflets and council’s website.
  
  It was felt that the scheme should broadly reflect public opinion and the results of the consultations informed the design of the new rules. The public feedback on the status of the city’s historic squares demonstrated that residents wanted to keep these spaces as dog exclusion areas.
  
  The scheme was resolved and implemented by full Council last year. The amended, consolidated and simplified rules on keeping dogs under control came into force on 1 January 2009, replacing older, less transparent, inconsistent byelaws, as required and recommended by Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act 2005.
  
  Experience informs us that this subject attracts very strongly held and opposing views. Changes to amend the dog control orders are not simple and would require another careful public consultation process and all that that will involve in terms of demands upon resources and management through the decision making process to full Council.
  
  Before we would embark on such a process we would request strong evidence that there is a clear community view for a change. Even then, this would be likely to be very controversial as were the last consultations.
  
  If you have any queries regarding my response please do not hesitate to contact me so I can resolve any outstanding issues.
  
  Yours sincerely,
  
  Roy Pickard
  
  Environmental Health Manager
  
  Environmental Health & licensing
  
  Bartholomew House
  
  Bartholomew Square
  
  Brighton
  
  BN1 6UD

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• Comment Link Monday, 30 November 2009 23:55 posted by Administrator

  there are the comments on the proposed ban (names removed)
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  Subject to the usual penalties being imposed for dog-fouling, and suitable arrangements made for helping dog-owners to behave responsibly, on balance we would support the lifting of the by-law that prohibits dogs entering the Square.
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  I would like residents to be able to walk their dogs in the square, and I think a dog bin is a great idea!
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  I think this is a fantastic idea Liam! Definitely support it
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  Since the ban is not enforced and the dogs are a delight, I believe the Square should be opened to dog-walkers and a waste bin provided.
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  I think this is a rediculous idea. How would you police who is a resident of the square and who is not? People from surrounding area's will just bring their dogs to "shit" in bedford sqaure.
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