Dog-walking businesses could face charge to use commons
COMMERCIAL dog walkers might be asked to pay a fee to use L’Ancresse Common in future after it was decided at the Vale Commons Council AGM to look into the idea.
President Peter Blake told the audience of about 40 that this course of action was being considered in the wake of ongoing problems with dogs on the common.
Recently, a flock of sheep had to be moved off the common after the same dog attacked them twice in a week.
Grazing had returned to the common only within the last two years, but the number of sheep attacks had risen sharply in the last few weeks.
The rising number of dogs being walked on the common has led to the idea of there being a bit more control.
‘The States vet is on board and we’d like to do something about it,’ he said.
‘We are looking to supervise it and regulate it a bit better.’
Since commercial dog walkers were a business, a small fee might be levied: ‘Perhaps make them pay a small donation,’ said Mr Blake.
He added that phone calls and emails were being received regularly from people concerned about dogs on the common.
The meeting approved the council looking further into the idea, although one member of the audience pointed out that it was private individuals walking their own dogs that were the problem, not the commercial walkers looking after several animals.
It was also suggested that efforts could be made to make sure dogs were kept on a lead when near farm animals on the common.
Mr Blake also raised the problem of fly-tipping on the common and said that in the last few days there had been a mattress dumped there. He had contacted Environment & Infrastructure to have it removed, but that had cost the council money.
Later at the meeting, Environment Guernsey’s Jamie Hooper also commented on fly-tipping during a short presentation on the group’s work on the common.
He said he was disappointed there was no prosecution after someone who dumped a sofa in the gorse had been caught.
