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A village near Huntingdon blighted by dog poo is trying to ban dogs from being let off their leads.

Brampton Parish Council has asked Huntingdonshire District Council to introduce dog controls on the Memorial Playing Field in Thrapston Road, after persistent dog fouling caused a "nuisance and a hazard" to people walking in the field.

The council added that "polite and aggressive signage" has not solved the problem - and has been left with no choice after years of problems.

The district council is now asking people to fill out an online survey which residents claim is "biased" and "outlining a clear agenda" against dogs.

'It's absolutely baffling'

Dog owner Joanne Cattmull, who owns two dogs and walks them regularly on the field, said: "I am horrified. It's absolutely baffling. The Memorial Playing Field is the only secure open space in the village that is suitable for letting dogs off lead.

"It is important that dogs are socialised with other dogs as they can otherwise become aggressive and anxious.

"But how they managed to put the two together - keeping dogs on their leads and dog fouling is baffling. I don't see how they're connected.

"In most residential areas, there is an issue with dog fouling in Brampton, caused by a small number of inconsiderate owners.

"Apart from putting rather lurid signs up around the playing field, I am not aware of any action being taken by the council to deal with these individuals."

Gina Turnbull, another dog owner, wrote on her petition which has attracted 92 signatures: "It is the absolutely disrespectful and lazy owners who are potentially going to spoil this amenity for us 99 per cent responsible and careful dog owners.

"Along with the footpaths to see dogs running, exercising is so beneficial and important to their mental wellbeing and socialistation.

"There is nowhere else in Brampton to free run our dogs.

"Dogs will foul whether on or off a lead. It is the owners who have the responsibility to clean up after their dog."

Why has the council put the request in?

The Memorial Playing Field has a number of recreational facilities.

This includes three mini football pitches, two standard football pitches, one cricket wicket and field, a skate park, a multi-use games area, a youth shelter, an outdoor gym and outdoor table tennis.

Tony Burnley, chairman of Brampton Football Club, admits that he's been forced to monitor the field for poo before games.

He said: "When I go to the playing fields at Thrapston Road on Saturday morning to check that the football pitch is in good shape before the weekend game, I take a couple of plastic bags with me.

"Part of my mission is to ensure that recently laid dog faeces are removed to prevent footballers from becoming fouled by dogs rather than the opposition.

"It may appear simple enough and not too onerous a task to 'bag' the normally smallish, dried droppings left behind by dogs, that I wonder why it should be me who is removing them rather than the owner or walker.

"My particular concern is for the users of the playing fields, many of whom are children engaged in leisure activities and too full of the joys of life to watch where they're treading, or worse still actually rolling in the stuff."

In May, BPC made a request to Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) to introduce new dog controls on the Memorial Playing Field - asking that the field be designated as a 'dogs on leads' area.

The notice posted by HDC on behalf of the parish council said: "This request has been made because of persistent dog fouling in the Memorial Field, resulting in nuisance and hazard to other users of the Memorial Field.

"This has been going on for some time and other means of preventing this, e.g. polite signage, have not solved the problem."

The notice then says that HDC are trying to get to the bottom of what people think about the desirability of introducing this new control on dogs in the Memorial Field.

'The questionnaire is biased'

Mrs Cattmull however says the questionnaire is biased - referencing question six, which asks people if, in the past year, a person has personally experienced any problems linked to dogs in the Memorial Field.

This lists 'dog attacks', 'dogs barking', 'dogs fighting', 'dogs fouling', and 'dogs running out of control'.

"That's the question that mostly concerns me," she said. "It doesn't offer the option 'None of the Above' nor does it allow any opportunity to indicate the frequency or severity of the problems experienced.

"Hearing a single dog barking in the last year would require the option 'dog barking' to be ticked.

"There's no space to show how often the person has seen dogs playing together or enjoying a run."

What does Brampton Parish Council have to say?

Brampton Parish Council says that it has not taken the decision lightly.

John Chiles, who is chair of the village facilities committee, admitted that he has been a parish councillor for 10 years, and dog poo on the Memorial Playing Fields has been on the agenda for that time.

"We've tried everything to stop it from happening," he said. "Polite signage, more aggressive signage to say that we're watching you to scare people, but nothing has worked. It's been almost impossible."

He added that the only other place which dog owners could walk is Hinchingbrooke Country Park - which, according to Google Maps, is around 30 minutes walk from the village.

Chairman of the parish council, Simon Jordan, said: "It's sad that it has come to this. I like seeing them running around the fields.

"I feel sorry for the 95 per cent. It's the irresponsible dog owners who are the five per cent that do it.

"But it's a field where people play football, and they don't want to step on the mess, and the grounds men who mow the grass don't like cleaning up the mess. It sometimes gets stuck in their machine.

"There is a link between dogs fouling more when dogs are not on their leads. Owners are less likely to notice it and clean it up if their dogs are away from them."

How have Brampton Parish Council requested for dogs to be put on leads? Huntingdonshire District Council approved a new set of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) for the district in October last year - which gives council officers a new set of powers. The council recognised that while "the vast majority of dog owners are responsible and control their pets", the control of dogs remained an issue of concern to the public. It received more than 1,000 complaints related to dog control over the past two years prior to the decision, including reports of dog fouling, stray dogs, dogs off leads and dangerous dogs. The most common problem was dog fouling. These new powers include: Stop dog walkers and ask if they have the necessary equipment to pick up dog poo

Require those in control of the dog to pick up and remove the poo anywhere in the district

To ask a dog owner to put their pet on a lead

Make areas in which dogs are prohibited If caught, the offence is enforceable with a fixed penalty of £100. Officers from the district's Community Protection and Enforcement team would monitor any breaches. These will remain in place for three years. After it will be re-examined by councillors.

What does Huntingdonshire District Council have to say?

Daniel Buckridge, policy, performance and transformation manager at Huntingdonshire District Council, said: "Huntingdonshire District Council has been approached by Brampton Parish Council with a request to add Brampton Memorial Field to the HDC Public Spaces Protection Order as a designated area which requires dogs to be on leads at all times.

"Before considering this request, we are carrying out a community consultation by means of an online survey.

"The survey has been publicised in the local area. The survey was designed and is managed by HDC and is independent of Brampton Parish Council.

"The nine questions are balanced and aim to get basic information about why people use the area, what problems (if any) they have experienced and what controls (if any) they would like to have introduced.

poll loading Should dogs be banned from being let off their leads here? 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes, the council have tried - it's time for extreme measures No, they're punishing too many people for a few inconsiderate people's actions

"Question 6 specifically asks about problems which people have actually experienced - information which is crucial to the decision making process.

"When completing the survey people also have the opportunity to submit brief comments.

"Once the survey period is over, we intend to provide the parish council with a report in order to allow them to decide whether they wish to proceed with their request.

"If they choose to do so, HDC will make the final decision over whether any additional controls are necessary.

"The results of the survey would then be considered alongside the evidence of dog problems and any other relevant information."

The consultation will be open until Sunday, July 8 2018.

To complete the survey, click here.