15,033 people sign petition opposed to proposals for banning dogs on Wirral’s beaches and parks
15,033 people sign petition opposed to proposals for banning dogs on Wirral’s beaches and parks
Cllr Chris Blakeley presenting a Say No To The PSPO petition to Wirral Council on the 9th July 2018
Yesterday evening, Cllr Chris Blakeley presented a petition on behalf of Wirral Good Dogs and Peaceful Protest Wirral Dogs Ban of 15,033 people opposed to Wirral Council’s proposals to ban dogs from parts of Wirral’s beaches and parks.
Marmaduke and the Red Gang at the Squirrel School were having a meeting. He asked the Red Gang what the local people had a lot of?
The Red Gang thought long and hard. They looked through their letters. A few had letters from the local people complaining about dogs.
“Dogs” a number of the Red Gang said in response to Marmaduke.
“Right” Marmaduke said beaming, “we’ll ask all dog owners to give us gold coins”.
The Red Gang looked afraid. A lot of the people around the Squirrel School had dogs. If they did what Marmaduke wanted then they would soon find themselves expelled.
None of the Red Gang liked to stand up to Marmaduke.
“It wouldn’t be fair on cat owners if we did that!” one finally said (hoping Marmaduke would change his mind).
“We could ask cat owners for gold coins too!” came Marmaduke’s reply.
This was even worse, making both dog and cat owners angry would surely see them expelled from the Squirrel School!
So instead one of the Red Gang called Moon came up with a plan.
From 2016 all dog crèches and people that looked after dogs at home would pay the Squirrel School gold coins.
64 gold coins each didn’t seem much. If the Squirrel School needed more gold coins the Squirrel School could charge vet fees or inspection fees.
Marmaduke was happy and the Red Gang was happy that they wouldn’t be expelled.
Marmaduke suggested that they don’t tell the ghosts this. If they did the people might find out!
Planning Committee (Wirral Council) (27th June 2013) APP/13/00574 5 Speedwell Drive, Barnston, CH60 2SY Change of use of garage to dog grooming parlour
Cllr Brian Kenny: Yeah, thank you Chair, well I’m mind to support the application. First of all the principle as I understand it, we can only make decisions here on sound planning reasons, for no other, no other sort of reasons. I think if you look at the hours that are being proposed I think they are reasonable, anybody would accept that they are reasonable hours, we’re not talking about dogs being groomed at eleven o’clock at night so, errm I think Saturday afternoons and Sundays, I think the hours are reasonable.
Err I think that … also as I say that the conditions are that the garage is soundproofed so we’re not talking about dogs howling day and night. I think if you look at some of the on the late list, some of the reasons objecting to this talks about aggressive dogs. Now I don’t think we could actually reject an application due to dogs which might be aggressive dogs. If there’s aggressive dogs in society it should be dealt within the existing legislation and I don’t think that is an argument itself for actually rejecting this particular application.
Also dogs fouling on the pavement, again I’m quite happy that if dogs foul the pavement it’s up to the owners of the dog to make sure that that dog fouling is cleared up so I don’t think it’s an argument against the planning application we’ve got before us now and it talks about unacceptable hours of operation, as I see it the hours that are being proposed the applicant has said she’s happy with. I don’t think there are the reasons that are acceptable. I think for those reasons, I can’t see any sound planning reasons to reject the application and on that basis I’m minded to support the application. Thank you Chair.
The below is what happened at a recent meeting of Wirral Council’s Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the end of a discussion about their response to the consultation on the budget option on the closure of Birkenhead dog kennel. The main concern was that if implemented the budget option would result in owners of dogs having to go to Halton to collect their pets. There’s an online petition against closure that has attracted over five hundred signatures.
Cllr David Elderton (Chair): Well as I’ve said before, I’m not prepared to continue with this tonight if we’re not allowed, yes, well that’s the point, no point in us giving our input unless it’s noted and I’m asked for it to be noted. I think that’s sensible, we’re all here to make our contribution to what’s going on. So are we happy with that and take a vote on that nominal contribution? All those in favour? Cllr Jerry Williams: No, no, no! Cllr David Elderton (Chair): OK, well this meeting is likely to be a waste of time if you can’t make some notes based on what we believe is contributing to a successful conclusion for all concerned. I’m disappointed but I’m not prepared to make an issue out of it. Can we, any more comments on dog kennels as such? I’ve made my own notes on that and I shall be reporting them to the right places. What’s the next one? Answer: The next one is page 57. Cllr Leah Fraser: Excuse me, sorry but as Dave [Mitchell] said there’s a whip going on, that’s supposed to be declared before the meeting. Cllr David Elderton (Chair): Yes it should! Cllr Leah Fraser: Well they’ve just been told to change their minds! Cllr David Elderton (Chair): Well that’s a whip, so anyway…
Cllr Jerry Williams said it was purely up to [Labour] councillors how they deal with decisions. Cllr David Elderton (Chair): Right, well if that’s the case I’m going to, I’m not wasting a lot of time on this, it’s a long night, I’m going to wind the tape back and I’m going to say I specifically propose as Chairman that this Committee that it should have some comment in the minutes saying the logistics of the issue should be taken into account during the consultation process. Do I have a seconder for that?
Cllr Steve Williams seconds. Cllr David Elderton (Chair): Right, which means that the comment that I am about to formulate, including this certain term, dealing with all party on both sides’ interest in this, that we should ask to be investigated. Can I have a vote on that, without a party whip?
For: 4 (Conservative plus Lib Dem)
Against: 2 (Two Labour, the rest abstained)
