READERS' VIEWS 9/10

13 October 2008

Dog law seriously flawed

I HAVE read from the Rugby Observer and the notices on the Rugby Borough Council that all dog owners must keep their dogs on leads.
The notice appears flawed for four key reasons and would urge the council and its members to reconsider the draft.
Firstly, it is cruel to dogs. Any owner knows that dogs like, enjoy and in fact need to run and this is clearly something that they cannot do on the lead.
As Rita Doggerel has stated in her letter last week “a poorly exercised dog is an unhealthy dog”. Most dog owners know that if a dog is not regularly exercised every day then their behaviour deteriorates and might become dangerous.
The proposal would mean dogs are less well exercised. This notice would make dogs a greater threat to public safety.
Secondly, I believe the legislation is unenforceable. How does the council propose to enforce the notice when by definition most of the footpaths are far from roads?
Do they expect other dog walkers to snitch on those who are letting their dogs run free? Or should the council recruit an army of dog-lead inspectors to confiscate dogs who are off the lead? Most dog walking takes place away from main thoroughfares where officials roam and the proposal would mean a need to increase officialdom or be unenforceable.
Thirdly, the notice appears to be ambiguous and therefore open to misinterpretation. It appears I am at liberty to walk my dog along any road without a lead as long as the speed limit on that road is in excess of 40mph. It is unclear as to which footpaths fall under this notice - are all footpaths subject to this proposal or is is just those that are maintainable at public expense.? If the later, under the Freedom of Information Act, I should like to be informed of each and every path in the borough.
In addition, how will dog owners from outside the borough know which paths are maintained at public expense and which are not - or will you spend even more money on notices informing them that each path is subject to your notice?
So this proposal appears to be cruel, unenforceable, poorly drafted and irresponsible. I trust the council will reconsider the amendment and allow the dog owners of Rugby one of the few joys left to us in this state - namely seeing our dogs run.
Richard Veys, Dunchurch

Let dogs run free

I HAVE been told by my family that soon I will no longer be able to run around freely in Rugby’s parks and open spaces because the council have decreed that we must stay on our leads or be spied upon by
Cruella Deville type wardens. Playing fetch will not quite have the same enjoyment now.
We as a species do not ask for a lot in life - some food, water, a basket and the chance to sniff another dog’s bum (I know that’s not to everyone’s taste, but hey, it’s a new century!)
I always behave when I am out and my family always clear up any little accidents and I have yet to bite a postman, although borough councillors better look out!
Please let me still have a little run around, it’s in our nature. Poor old little Timmy would still be stuck down the well if the council had their way because Lassie would still be tied to a lamppost.
Perhaps I am wrong and we should actually all be kept in cages and become overweight pooches.
Joey, a two-year-old Collie cross (or should that be livid), Newbold Road, Rugby

Daft ideas show lack of checks on council

TELFORD council planned to stop and interrogate lone men, without children or dogs, asking what they were doing in public parks. Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?
Well, yes, as a matter of fact I have - it’s Rugby Borough Council introducing byelaws insisting dogs are kept on leads in parks and any place with a public footpath.
Do such ideas originate from councillors acting on behalf of the public, or is there some unelected mandarin in the Town Hall enjoying unrestrained power?
The Telford and similar madcap ideas seem to periodically emerge from town halls all over the country - doesn’t this suggest there are insufficient checks and balances, giving officers the rights of a dictator over the public they are supposed to humbly serve.
Since Victorian times (and probably before) it’s been accepted that dogs can run free, and a grand sight it can be for the dog lover - but I bet that Sean Lawson, the much quoted RBC spokesman on this subject, is not a dog owner. Perhaps he has a cat?
Why in 2008 is it suddenly desirable to add still more pettifogging restrictions into our lives - and those of dogs? Isn’t it because there’s no democratic mechanism to nip in the bud daft ideas whether they originate from the European Union or the Town Hall?
Dr DM Sharp, Lower Hillmorton Road, Rugby

Untrained dogs are a menace

DOGS running free are fine if they are properly trained, but the fact is that many are not.
I find that aggressive, out of control dogs are a stress I could do without, and potentially a danger to less fit people. If owners want to let their dogs loose in public places, please train them properly, in particular to be non-aggressive in public areas.
If owners choose to exercise aggressive and poorly trained dogs off the leash, please can they do it on their own private land, not where children and pensioners, and indeed healthy baby boomers, can be intimidated.
Balliol Fowden, Hillmorton Road, Rugby

Phone law not being enforced

WHEN are the police in Rugby going to start enforcing the law re: the use of mobile phones while driving?
The reason for my question is that while walking from my house into the town centre last Monday, approx 15 minutes walk, I saw at least six motorists using their mobile phone while driving, three of these were actually negotiating roundabouts - within half a mile of the police station!
And what has happened to common courtesy on the roads?
My reason for this question is the majority of motorists don’t seem to be indicating any more. Isn’t it courteous to use indicators so that other drivers/pedestrians can be aware of the intention of motorists.
Surely it’s not too difficult to just flick a switch to indicate, or maybe these drivers think we’re all psychic. Or maybe they just don’t have enough hands as they’re using their mobiles.
 Helen Scott-Jones, Lea Crescent, Newbold-on-Avon

Report should have mentioned everyone who took part

WITH reference to your front page story about the fashion show in the Clock Towers (Observer, September 25) - it was very disappointing that you made the story all about Iga.
There were 12 models involved in the show who all gave their time free to help raise money for Cancer Research and among these models was Devina Davidson, Miss Nigeria 2002 and runner-up to Miss World; Jade Hollins, Miss Rugby 2008; Face of Mojo Sexy Hair Stephen Manan, Mr Rugby 2008, Face of Mojo Barbers Alexandra Benton, Rachael Morey, Rebecca Pratt, Natasha Orr, Rebecca Pardo, Gary Stringer, Christopher Tomlin and James Mendes.
May I also point out that nowhere in the article was there mentioned the businesses involved or the people behind the scenes. The formal wear was provided by Boheme Fashions for the ladies and Heaphys for the men, casual wear was provided by New Look and XPlicit and outdoor wear by Millets.
All of the models had their hair done by Super Cuts and makeup by Mystique who provided this service free, choreography and back stage organisation was done by Jayne Slater (the Face of Intimos Lingerie).
All the models were provided by the Mr and Miss Rugby organisation, and were finalists in the competition held earlier this year.
I am sure your photographer has got a group shot, or your reporter could have got this information to ensure that the story was covered correctly and not just focusing on one model.
The event raised £120 plus the help given by everyone involved who gave their time free.
I would like to say thank you to all the businesses especially BB’s who provided all the organisers with food and drink during the event.
Diane Slater, Norton Leys, Hillside Rugby

Editor’s note - We hope Ms Slater can appreciate that, like any other publication, the Observer does not have an unlimited amount of space and therefore needs to be selective in the information we can include on each of the numerous events this newspaper covers every week. The busy nature of the fashion show prevented our photographer from being able to set up a full group shot of all the models, however his individual pictures of the other participants were published on our website, as we stated in the story.

I've had enough of inconsiderate drivers

I’VE just had the great experience of using Leicester Road, going to the town centre.
Yes, there are rotten queues and we all have to queue, but I’ve noticed a special elite group of road users (who must be busier and therefore obviously more important than us regular people who do wait patiently in line) who use the right hand lane and roundabout to get to town?
If I’m 50 yards from the roundabout, please, all you have to do is press your horn give me the look of death and i will gratefuly let you in, it is an honour and to share the road with you!
Sam James, Via email

Memories of the shop my dad used to run

IN REPLY to your letter looking back feature of September 11, regarding T.G. Jackson & Son, the business ceased trading in 1956.
My late father Mr George Coles and myself Georgina O’Connor (nee Coles) closed down the shop on behalf of Miss Glady Jackson (my father’s Cousin) when she became ill and passed away at St Cross Hospital that year.
The front of the shop had been altered since the picture you printed, but I don’t know when this was done. I worked as a Saturday girl in the shop some 60 years ago. I hope this information is of some use to you.
Mrs G O’Connor, Via email

Phone company asks for too much information

AS A member of the BT Light User Telephone Scheme I have received a letter advising that this service is to be replaced by a new scheme BT Basic.
The letter was accompanied by a booklet explaining the new service which appears to be aimed not at people who do not use the phone very much but at people on low incomes.
I was was alarmed to read the following on page 5 of the booklet. It said ‘When you fill in the BT Basic application form, you will need to give some personal information, such as your date of birth and your National Insurance Number. We need these details so we can check your records with the Department for Work and Pensions. These records help us to find out whether you are eligible for BT Basic.’
Surely a telephone service provider does not need to check up on an individual’s personal details to the extent of finding out if they are in receipt of benefit or pension credit.
Surely this is confidential information and if the Department for Work and Pensions is inundated with calls from BT will they be able to continue to give help to genuine enquiries from members of the public.
A telephone service should be based on how much a customer uses the telephone and not be a means tested operation.
S W Steane, Lawford Lane, Bilton

Council needs to act on flooding

ONCE again the heavens opened and the rain came to Rugby over last weekend, and yet again chaos was caused at the entrance to Sainsbury’s as the usual flooded road made drivers have to utilise the opposite carriageway much to the annoyance of oncoming traffic.
However this weekend, as I travelled to Dunchurch, the pedestrian crossing caused me to stop my journey to allow a mother and child in a buggy to cross.
To my horror this mother had to wade through approximately eight inches of filthy water to get across the road, as the puddle, now fully stirred up by cars, had even covered the crossing and was beginning to enter Sainsbury’s access road - the poor lad’s feet were drenched.
Why do we have to continue to endure this ridiculous situation every time the rain falls? Winter is approaching and as we appear to be experiencing more and more floods we can only assume this will be a more frequent event.
Please Rugby council, will you do something about the drainage in this area and resolve what must be a simple issue which we have endured for years?
Lee White, Via email

Sad lack of back up for our military

THE tense military situation on the eastern fringes of Europe might have similarities with the threats facing our nation 70 summers ago.
One notable difference is the lack of understanding by out political leaders of the need to possess the industrial capability necessary to underpin a war effort.
This was firmly grasped by the pre-war prime minister Neville Chamberlain who had been educated at Rugby School and was a scion of a Midlands industrial dynasty. He was aware that any opposition to military aggression had to be supported by visible strategic resources which prompted the construction of the many shadow factories around our industrial centres.
The huge factory at Ryton became the largest local development and contributed to the war effort by producing aero engines, gun tractors and a variety of military vehicles.
This year saw this functioning car plant reduced to rubble along with the demolition of countless other manufacturing sites around the country. This forms part of an ill-judged transition reducing our nation from its earlier industrial pre-eminence to a service based dependency with diminished strategic clout.
If our Government intends to mediate in the military affairs of distant lands they might recall the earlier humiliation of the Vatican when Stalin challenged the Pope’s influence by asking how many divisions he could deploy.
County councillor R P Morris-Jones, Lutterworth Road, Pailton

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