Guernsey Press

Vazon should be a dog-free beach

VAZON Protect acknowledges with thanks all messages of support received. Regular reporting of all canine- related issues to the authorities is encouraged. In relation to queries surrounding the storm water pipe at Vazon Bay and dogs breaching the banned section. Established signs around the bay clearly show the dog ban area (highlighted by red-hatching) fixed between Hommet headland and Richmond kiosk, extending downward the beach. The near-surface water pipe is positioned an obvious 50 metres or so within the dog ban zone, with the east dune steps (beyond public toilets) located approximately 125 metres into the dog ban area. Why do so many dog walkers ignore the signs every year? A minimum of 393 clear cases of ban breach have again been recorded on Vazon during the month of May this year.

Published

In further consideration of signs confirming the dog ban zone at Vazon. The tiny stretch of dune, below the public toilets, appears the only ration of soft sand deemed sufficient for people to relax and children to play on, though I couldn’t recommend it. The sea rarely affects any of the dunes, only during very high spring tides, once per year, sometimes twice, some years not at all, but never known to affect the dunes in entirety.

Dog waste is particularly hazardous, concealing a variety of bacteria, viruses and parasites, including but not limited to: whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, Neospora, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E-coli, round worms, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, leptospira etc. Further, eggs from certain canine contaminations remain in soil or sand for several months after being deposited. There is a case for at least ensuring all local sand dunes and upper areas of our beaches are kept permanently free from daily and accumulative effects of canine activity. As the whole of Vazon Bay is a naturally important location for local and migrating wildlife, including endangered shore feeding birds, is used year-round for a wide variety of recreational activity, in addition to its obvious visual appeal, there ought to be a permanent dog ban, restoring this bay to at least one local dog-free space. A restorative space where local people and visitors can fully relax and local and migrating wildlife is far less disturbed and safe when feeding. Such a management plan would deliver necessary and obvious clarity, remove the annual charade of dog breaches and associated enforcement issues, significantly reduce damaging disruption of our wildlife, address issues of intrusive and discordant noise, prevent canine assaults and interference on people and their families and greatly improve the hygiene of this wonderful natural space.

Local people, our visitors and wildlife have long deserved a much better deal.

VAZON.PROTECT@GMAIL.COM