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| Impressive - but also intimidating, especially to toddlers |
OWNERS of out-of-control dogs came under fire at a scrutiny meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council.
Many small children (and some adults) are frightened to venture on to Cleethorpes Beach for fear of off-the-lead canines either yapping at their ankles or jumping up at them.
If challenged, the usual response of the owner is: "He's just being friendly" or "Ignore him, he won't hurt you."
But this does not minimise the impact on the target who may not welcome the attention of other people's animals.
At this week's tourism scrutiny panel meeting, Cllr Tim Mickleburgh said dogs had jumped at him on "several occasions".
He called for a restriction on dogs whereby they could only be walked on Central Beach if they were controlled on leads.
Cllr Gaynor Rogers, herself the owner of two rescue dogs, acknowledged the concerning, noting that there had been two recent "attacks" on North Promenade, near the Fuller Street bridge.
"We need to be vigilant," she declared. "But we should remind ourselves that dog-owners, in general, are nice people."
Panel chairman Cllr Keith Brookes urged members to keep their focus on the tourism section of the resort.
"If we widen our brief, it will fall under the auspices of the communities scrutiny panel," he observed.
Cllr Jane Hyldon-King agreed that dogs on Central Beach should be restrained on a lead.
"The last thing we need is big dogs jumping up at small kids," she insisted.
During a discussion about whether signs urging responsible conduct were sufficiently plentiful or prominent, Cllr Bill Parkinson controversially called for the installation of one carrying the message: "Cleethorpes welcomes non dog-owners".
He went on: "Some people don't obey rules of decency - I despair at the way they handle their dogs.
"They love their animals so much that they think the creatures should be allowed to do whatever they want."
He continued: "It saddens me how owners obsess about their dogs so much that they think everyone else should do, too.
"They don't seem to realise how much distress their animals might be causing.
"It's a state of mind, and I'm not sure what you can do about it, but any initiative that stops dogs causing a nuisance would be welcome."
A cautionary note was sounded by Cllr Bob Callison who said people - residents and visitors alike - would be "confused" if existing policy towards dogs on the beach were to be changed.
The panel noted comments from two NELC officers present at the meeting that it was the authority's practice to "engage" with thoughtless owners, and there was no plan to review existing policy at least until July next year.
No action was taken on Cllr Mickleburgh's "leads-only" proposal for Central Beach, but, at the suggestion of Cllr Brookes, it was agreed that the matter should be brought back to the panel for further consideration in "two or three months' time".
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| 'He won't hurt you - he's just being friendly' |
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