Village Voice June 2012 19
Village Voice Postbag We’re not out to ‘hound out’ dog owners IN THE May Issue of The Village Voice it was reported under a headline ‘Got a dog? Prepare to be hounded out’ that the Parish Council proposed to consider banning dogs from the Recreation Ground, and that the council’s dog fouling patrol wants to punish a majority due to a small number of offenders. This report contains a number of inaccuracies which the council would like to rectify. In fact, the issue had been brought to the attention of a councillor who does not sit on the Dog Fouling Sub-committee by a member of one of the clubs which regularly use the Cockshut Lane facilities. The brief discussion which followed can be summarised as follows: ■ The primary function of the Recreation Ground is to provide sport and leisure facilities for local residents, and that the enjoyment of these activities should not be diminished by other people’s inconsiderate actions; ■ It is not acceptable that sports clubs using the facilities should have to clean the pitches of dog faeces before play can commence; ■ There is a risk of disease (humans, and children in particular, are susceptible to Toxocara canis which can result in blindness and is contracted from dog faeces); ■ No one wants to stop people taking their dogs to the Recreation Ground, but if the consequences are that the grounds cannot be used safely for their primary function, restrictions may inevitably have to be applied; and ■ Under the current rules, dogs should not be off-lead when on the Recreation Ground. The dog fouling sub-committee was not established to ‘hound’ responsible dog owners. It was in response to residents’ valid concerns regarding dog fouling. These are some of the most common complaints received by the council and they usually demand “What are you going to do about it?” The committee is working to highlight these issues and to change people’s inconsiderate misuse of the town’s amenities and thoroughfares. If people disagree with these aims, they are most welcome to attend the regular council meetings to voice their concerns. Thus far the majority opinion would seem to be to address the problem head on. Cllr David Carpenter on behalf of Melbourne Parish Council
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HENRY Dunnicliff and Marion Cocks (nee Elliott) were married at Melbourne United Reformed Church on May 26. Marion has lived in Cornwall for many years, although originally from Melbourne. She and Henry were school friends together over 50 years ago.
Church garden party MELBOURNE Parish Church Garden Party will be held on Saturday, June 30, from 2pm-4pm at the Senior Citizens' Centre, Church Street. ■ THE 98th annual Ashby Show, organised by Ashby Agricultural Society, will be taking place on Sunday, July 15. The show has both a new venue (Cattows Farm, Heather) and a new main sponsor, Livesey Brothers of Packington. For more information contact Jane Harding, Ashby Show Secretary, 07952 058569 or ashbyshow@btconnect.com
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