Call for complete ban of dogs from beach
MORE than 500 people have said they are against Combe Martin Parish Council's decision to enforce a partial dog ban on the beach at Combe Martin.
Some of those against the partial ban are from the village's tourist association, the museum, as well as members of the parish council's own bathing water working party.
They sent out a survey in the village last month.
Within a week the majority of responses had been returned.
By January 21 the returned surveys were counted and 510 people said they were against the partial ban, wanting a total ban instead.
This was compared to just 24 who said they were for the partial ban.
The parish council's proposal would allow dogs on part of the beach during the summer months, while on the other part a ban would be imposed.
But those opposing the scheme believe it will be detrimental to the village's tourism as well as being a health risk to all on the beach.
The figures of 95 per cent voting for a total ban of dogs and five per cent voting for a partial ban have been passed to the parish council.
Councillors will discuss the matter at their next full council meeting on February 13.
Gary Mallinder, the chairman of Combe Martin Tourism Association, said the campaigners now can do little more than wait for the parish council's response.
But as well as the questionnaire North Devon MP Nick Harvey has also been contacted by campaigner Donna Green to see if he can assist.
Donna, a mum of two, who is a dog owner herself, is particularly keen to see a total dog ban.
She said: "Everyone believed the parish council's previous request not to have dogs on the beach was a bylaw anyway.
"Now the dogs will have the best of the beach and how will it be monitored?"
Donna is expecting to hear back from Mr Harvey in the next few days.
The parish council is yet to hold a public consultation on the matter and a date for it to start has not been set.
However, the campaigner's questionnaire will not count towards the consultation as it is not answering it directly.
The parish council's clerk Michelle Beaumont said if people want to have their views taken into account by the council during the consultation they will have to do that separately.
10 Comments
by accom
Friday, February 03 2012, 5:43PM
“Personally I love poo so I am happy for dogs to go anywhere they like.”
by BOGOFF2
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:24PM
“What bugs me most are the dogs that run up to me or my children trying to jump up at us or stick their noses in my picnic box while their irresponsible owner's say " oh he's just saying hello ". As parent's we tell our children to not approach dog's they don't know, if only some dog owner's would teach their dogs not to approach children.
I have often considered the reaction of dog owners if I sent my children to go and leap up at them or snoop round their picnic boxes.
Keep our beaches free of poo !.”
by nodogsonbeach
Friday, February 03 2012, 12:17PM
“Even the dog owner who lives in the house next to the beach just opens hids door and allows his dog to wander on the beach for its daily poo!!! Does he pick it up?? NO!!! This is what we have to live with in Combe Martin on a daily basis!! One of the school children fell over on the school playing field and was covered in dog poo!!! the inconsiderate owners even go onto school property!!!
Our streets are covered in dog poo, so is our football pitch, our parks,playareas and the list goes on.....
i am a dog owner myself as well as a mother, i will not mind walking 2 minutes up the road to the dog friendly beach in the summer!!!
The irresponsible dog owners have caused this!!!! Target them, because if they thought about the dangers of dog poo and our childrens health we would not need to debate this at all!!!
I would say to people that until our streets and public areas look cleaner i.e no dog poo that we have to do something to keep our beach a clean place!!!
I would never use a dog friendly beach in the summer, my children should be able to run bare foot,build sandcastles, without worrying about dog poo or bad tempered dogs!!!
I have received countless messages,emails from tourists who will boycott Combe Martin if both beaches are dog friendly in the summer!!!
Dog owners have a choice to use another beach, if you allow dogs on the other beach too what choice do we have??????
Children are FAR more important than dogs and that is FACT!!! I love my dog , but i love my children more!!!! They will come before any dogs every time!!!!!!”
by albinonina
Friday, February 03 2012, 11:31AM
“maddog woman.... firstly we arnt dog haters, most of us are dog owners inc donna herself, second there is another beach 5 min walk away thats dog friendly all year round with no restrictions, why not walk there? third how will it be good for a dog having to spend all day on a lead in the heat with the only supply of fresh water a river , that can some times be fast running and dangerous also i dont want to spend the summer on the beach looking out for dog poo, telling people where they can and cant go with their dogs, and wondering if i can sit in a paticular place next to a dog because the dog looks hot and bothered and might get funny with young children ... all we want is a few months of the year with 1 out of 2 beaches dog free ... is that so unreasonble ??? :)”
by maddogwoman
Friday, February 03 2012, 11:29AM
“Bagtastic
I am not comparing a dog with a child. I am I am stating it is not just dogs that foul beaches. I have dogs and children and they have both been taught how to behave!”
by Bangtastic
Thursday, February 02 2012, 10:39PM
“Its simple, keep ALL dogs off ALL of the beaches. There is no place for dogs on beaches.
It might upset the fluffy dog lovers but they don't have a right to exercise their dogs, where is this RIGHT laid down??
Maddogwoman, how can you compare a child with a dog?? there is no comparison, a child is a human life whilst a dog is just a pet. TBH there is no practical use for dogs anyway.”
by maddogwoman
Thursday, February 02 2012, 4:30PM
“Have one part of the beach that allows dogs. Then the dog haters can go to the part that is dog free. If it is easily signposted then everyone knows were they can exercise their dogs. Don't alienate the tourists, North Devon relies on this business. Dog owners have a right to exercise our dogs, how about some parents keeping their unruly offspring under control. They defeacate wherever they want to on beaches, yes I've seen them!”
by Rockall2011
Thursday, February 02 2012, 2:48PM
“ConcernedCM is right. Such a move will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on tourism. For the many local people who own dogs, they need somewhere to exercise them less we have another problem, that of 'frustrated' dogs having been inadequately exercised which can lead to more aggressive ones.”
by accom
Thursday, February 02 2012, 1:59PM
“It's a dog-eat-dog world.”
by ConcernedCM
Thursday, February 02 2012, 11:27AM
“People who have arranged to visit and holiday in Combe Martin this season on the basis that it has one dog free beach and one dog friendly beach (as portrayed in advertising and on the internet) may well be dismayed and possibly feel cheated to arrive and find this is no longer the case. To avoid this and for several other reasons I hope the Parish Council will take note of the public reaction to this recent well intended decision and amend it accordingly.”