This so called public consultation is not about dog mess at all as I agree with "spider69" there are no more dogs now than in the past. This is about Southwark welcoming "families and their children" to their parks and open spaces. Southwark says in their questionnaire dog owners who in the minority are costing tax payers money on clearing up dog fouling and affecting the enjoyment of some visitors to their parks. 1) That's why tax payers money goes towards employing Southwark wardens we see walking 2 by 2, is it not? to patrol these types of anti-social behaviours. 2) I would welcome the next survey by Southwark on banning all lorry drivers in Southwark so visitors to Southwark on their cycles can ride safely, as these lorry drivers in the minority are costing the tax payers money spent on the ambulance service, the fire service the police, not to mention the hospital service also when they accidentally run cyclists over. 3) How about banning people from eating and drinking in the parks, as the tax payers money goes towards employing people to pick up litter, beer cans sweet wrappers crisp wrapper etc. 4) How about creating more Dog Only exercise gated areas (theres one in Nunhead) where families with push chairs and babies, know not to enter if they don't like dogs. This area is well respected by all responsible dog owners, as they are polite enough to wait for other dogs to leave before entering as not all dogs get on and they always pick up their dogs mess apart from the minority. 5) How about creating more "HUMAN FREE AREA ONLY", in Peckham Rye, there is a DOG FREE area for families which works perfectly well for them, though they're still encountering poo of a different kind aren't they? when they find when laying their picnic sheets down to not find dog poo on the grass but bird poo, fox poo etc. What next, survey on ridding all birds in the parks so visitors to the parks can enjoy Southwarks open spaces? Dogs bring a lot of joy to those majority of responsible dog owners, and also a joy for us when we can watch them RUN FREE (just like toddlers when in a playground with other toddlers) and play with other like minded dogs. We are responsible human beings are we not, as a dog owner if I don't like the look of what I see ahead of me be it a dog or human I steer and walk in the opposite direction. Southwark needs to promote education to adults and children alike because I have had adults screaming from a distance when I've had my dog walking on a lead beside me, yelling and screaming at me to keep my dog away from her all because she doesn't like dogs, the distance between us was about 20 metres! Needless to say I was shocked and just carried on walking with my dog calmly beside me! I might not like certain characters walking beside me i.e. smokers, what next Southwark carrying out survey to promote banning smoking altogether to make their open spaces an enjoyable smoke free zone??? or survey on preventing groups of teenagers hanging together in public because they intimidate others. Oh and create more "HUMAN FREE AREAS ONLY" then those stay at home women with their push prams walking side by side next to other mothers with push prams deep in conversation, cannot then complain they have to wipe dog poo off their push prams when they get home.
