I hope you weren't rude to them Janep!!

This is the problem of course. Can't really have a go at them, because they just don't have the man power, or the backing of law, to cover all the problems that occur in the area.

Birch and national service.....what a good idea! I presume you are one of them then?

That's right.  Get 'em in the Army.  Put a stop to all that marching and fighting.

Great news the zip wire is running again as this will give pleasure to many children. The next task should be to prevent dogs from fouling in the woodchip around the play equipment. My suggestion would be to ban all dogs from the childrens play area between the Reservoir Road entrance and the bridge over Toddbrook.

When I was in the park the other day there was a guy who had a black staffordshire bull terrier which he let of its lead in the kids playground while he was talking on his mobile phone he couldnt care that his dog was running around kids I agree dogs off leads should be banned from the park and football ground before something serious happens

I was talking to Paul Evans the Park Keeper about this the week after it happened.  He said he couldn't understand it, as there was some training going on on the pitch on Friday evening, when there was no mess at all, and then on Saturday morning there was loads of "dog" poo all over the pitch.  I can think of three reasons:  firstly, maybe somebody had a dog with a tummy problem and walked it down to the football pitch 10 times so it could relieve itself; secondly, maybe 10 people got together with their dogs and went down to the football pitch so the dogs could deliberately foul on it, or maybe....just maybe....the so called "dog" poo is in fact FOX poo.  Which of the three possibilities sounds more likely to you?  I know it is fox poo, as my dogs, and many others, are really enjoying rolling in it both near the football pitch and down in the park.  On a mild, damp day, you can smell it as you walk past the football pitch.  And why is there so much fox activity around those areas at the moment?.........well, I wonder if it could be something to do with all the fast food trays, bags and remains that are constantly being spread over the area.  Why would a fox even consider going hunting for food when it is thrown all over the ground for him - curry, chips, crisps, burgers etc., etc.  Oh and by the way, fox poo contains more worms and nasties than any pet dog.  Perhaps Jonny Summers you would consider putting a notice up, at fox eye level of course, and if possible in fox friendly language, asking foxes to foul elsewhere?  Or perhaps it would be more helpful to try and get these litter louts to pick up their rubbish and put it in the plentiful  bins provided for that purpose.  And perhaps you could stop throwing unfounded accusations at dog owners.

As for Athena - why the horrified face at the mere sight of a staffordshire bull  terrier?  This breed was commonly known as the "Nanny Dog", because of the their friendly, affectionate nature and their gentleness with children.  Just because some idiot people use them as "killer" dogs doesn't mean they are a dangerous breed.  Would you have felt better if it had been a poodle running about?  And as for keeping dogs on leads in the park areas....why?  How about banning cycles, in case they run a child over?  Oh and don't forget to ban all men walking in the park on their own, in case they have evil intent.....in fact, let's stop everybody going in the Park before "something serious happens".

Nice to see that someone has cleared up the contents of a Tampax packet that one of our delightful kids ( you know, the ones who have nowhere to go, nothing to do) decided to throw round the bench near the Reservoir Road entrance to the Park.  That must have really enhanced the pleasure of any visitors coming in that way.  And before you ask, I will pick up mess from other peoples' dogs, bottles and cartons, but I draw the line at Tampax!  Tell you what......lets ban kids from the Park as well.  Then there will be absolutely no mess at all.  


There, sorted! 

Well, well. The Sun and the Mirror. How can I argue against these illustrious, wise and unbiased newspapers! Of course there are dog attacks, but if I had nothing better to do I could go through the papers and find dog attacks by every breed of dog under the sun. It's the deed, not the breed. And I can guarantee that the dogs that attack are those that are not socialised or exercised, and, more often than not, are abused and ill treated. Staffordshire bull terriers are the same as any other dog. No better, no worse. Dogs have been running free on the Park for as long as the Park has existed, and I have yet to see anyone with "half her throat missing". Mad hysteria, whipped up by headline grabbing, low level media who know that the more alarmist they make their stories, the more the most gullible of the public will soak it all up. Yes, children do get hurt, but they get hurt by cars, trains, buses, paedophiles and the insane, not just dogs. What are you going to do - ban everything and everybody? Life will always have an element of risk, but if you constantly walk around expecting bad things to happen, you would go mad. Certainly, if you see a dog in the Park behaving in a vicious or aggressive manner, then report it, but do not tar all dogs with the same brush. The vast majority of people ensure that their dogs are not aggressive towards children or adults, and if they have any doubts they do keep them on leads. Why would they not? Please credit dog owners (and I am talking about the vast majority who actually do care about thier dogs) with some sense.

And I will repeat myself - Staffordshire Bull Terriers, as a breed, are a loyal, affectionate and loving dog and make a brilliant pet. It is a mixture of a small minority of idiot owners, mainly youths in uirban areas, and a media spouting hysterical rhetoric that has given the breed such a bad name.

I have just this minute heard on the radio that in this country every 10 days a child dies at the hands of a carer.

I think dogs have a long way to go to beat that record.

. And I can guarantee that the dogs that attack are those that are not socialised or exercised, and, more often than not, are abused and ill treated. Staffordshire bull terriers are the same as any other dog. No better, no worse. Dogs have been running free on the Park for as long as the Park has existed, and I have yet to see anyone with "half her throat missing". Mad hysteria, whipped up by headline grabbing, low level media who know that the more alarmist they make their stories, the more the most gullible of the public will soak it all up. Yes, children do get hurt, but they get hurt by cars, trains, buses, paedophiles and the insane, not just dogs. What are you going to do - ban everything and everybody? Life will always have an element of risk, but if you constantly walk around expecting bad things to happen, you would go mad. Certainly, if you see a dog in the Park behaving in a vicious or aggressive manner, then report it, but do not tar all dogs with the same brush. The vast majority of people ensure that their dogs are not aggressive towards children or adults, and if they have any doubts they do keep them on leads. Why would they not? Please credit dog owners (and I am talking about the vast majority who actually do care about thier dogs) with some sense.

And I will repeat myself - Staffordshire Bull Terriers, as a breed, are a loyal, affectionate and loving dog and make a brilliant pet. It is a mixture of a small minority of idiot owners, mainly youths in uirban areas, and a media spouting hysterical rhetoric that has given the breed such a bad name.

I have just this minute heard on the radio that in this country every 10 days a child dies at the hands of a carer.

I think dogs have a long way to go to beat that record.

Well put Mr Scope!, altho it was me who made up the War comment, in line with the previous ludicrous post re  ' Life will always have an element of risk, but if you constantly walk around expecting bad things to happen, you would go mad.'

You try telling a 2 year old boy that after an excited dog loose in the park runs up and knocks him flat on his back!....Thus rendering him scared of dogs now..

Its a parents duty to protect a child from this 'risk'.....but no!...' My Dogs Friendly...its never bitten anyone....hes just excited....How dare you argue with me I know my dog you dont'....I have heard it all.!!!!