CHIPPENHAM dog walkers are outraged over new rules which means pets must always be on leads in John Coles Park.

From November 1 dog will have to be kept on leads in John Coles Park after councillors from the Amenities, Culture and Leisure Committee voted to bring the rule into force.

This new rule also means the council will take away the fenced doggie exercise area as they believe it is no longer be required.

New signs will also be placed at the entrances to John Coles Park reminding dog walkers of the new rules.

In response, more than 600 dog owners have signed an online petition calling on Chippenham Town Council to reconsider.

Tracey Firth, who started the petition, said she wanted to get to the bottom of why the decision was made and to hold a public consultation on what might happen next.

She said that people found out the changes were on the cards at Chippenham Town Council through rumours, and that at that point they could find nothing published and there were no notices around the park warning users that the rules could be changing.

“It’s a bit of a one-sided decision on limited information,” she said.

“What we are asking is for a review of the decision, some more information to back up how they made that decision, a public consultation and for a delay into next year at least.

“It also seems like a strange time of year to implement the change. The majority of people who are going to be using the park now for the rest of the year and into next year are the dog walkers.”

Ms Firth said she has tried to get more information on why the decision was taken by the authority.

“The petition is because nobody seemed to know about it, and the park users, all the dog walkers, are quite upset and angry. The petition was started to try and get some clarity on what is going on and to get a fair discussion.”

She pointed out that even in the council’s report opinion on the issue was split.

The report for the committee meeting said: “The dogs on/off leads has been a contentious issue in John Coles Park for many years.

“Regular customers of John Coles Park appear to be a 50 per cent split of those who want dogs to be able to run free over the whole of the park and 50 per cent of those who want dogs either on leads or not allowed in the park at all.

“Over the years a compromise has been made where the top of the park is available to dogs off lead and the bottom field on lead.”

The report added that it was up to dog owners to follow the rules of the park and not the responsibility of any council employee.

When members of the Environmental Services Team ‘politely request owners to follow the rules’ they are often met with unpleasant comments or resistance, the report notes.

Cllr Desna Allen, chairman of the Amenities, Culture and Leisure Committee, said the on-lead rule was the pragmatic option and the council were not ‘banning dogs’.

She added that over time they had collected requests from people to dogs to be kept on leads. She cited one case she knew of where an elderly woman was concerned about being knocked over by dogs.

Commenting on the lack of public consultation, Cllr Allen said it was not needed under the legislation.

“We had requests from people who were concerned and then officers brought a report to us which said that this was an option,” she said.

“Most of us felt that dogs are better under control in a formal park. There are plenty of places to let dogs run free and it’s just something that I hope we will be able to implement by consensus.”

Nathan Brown was among people who contacted the Gazette this week. He claimed dog owners were furious the rule was passed without public consultation.

The town council’s Facebook post announcing the rule changes has received over 100 comments from people, with most voicing their opposition.

Another resident, Chris Ward said that people have felt ‘railroaded’ but added that he believes everybody, not just dog walkers, should have their voices heard.

He said: “I’ve seen these sorts of things before where people get entrenched in their own corners, but I do think the council ought to put it to a vote or give some consultation so everybody can give their viewpoint.”

The town council has suggested dog walkers looking to let their pooches run free use Donkey Fields or Monkton Park.

Cllr Allan told the Gazette that under council rules the decision cannot be reviewed again for six months, unless new evidence is brought to the council.

Ms Firth’s online petition can be found at you.38degrees.org.uk