Current beach dog ban regime is not working
LATEST Vazon.Protect data confirms 1,983 dog ban breaches for Vazon Bay between and including 1 May and 30 September 2021. This is a significant number, demonstrating the current regime is not working. When is ‘No dogs on beach’ going to mean no dogs on beach? Why are dog walkers ignoring the ban signs on our beaches? Where is the care and consideration for others, who want to enjoy the island’s best beach without the many concerns relating to canine presence? Where is the enforcement?
Signs around Vazon Bay clearly show dogs should only be on the section of the bay between Richmond Kiosk (not the pipe) and Richmond Corner.
Dog bans ought to apply to all beaches, or we should at least have the decency to erect clear warning signs for unsuspecting tourists and locals who are not aware or need advisory reminders.
In relation to dogs on leads in public spaces. Though an obvious partial solution, hopefully leading to elimination in number of assaults, intrusions and bird chasing (amongst other things) such sensible practice would not however extend to prevention of dog urine and faecal contaminations of public spaces. Why is this island knowingly permitting continuation of entirely preventable daily pollution of our fine beaches? When will people on Guernsey be able to enjoy urine- and excrement-free public spaces? Why should beach users at any time be left to question the cleanliness of their surroundings? Why are the unwelcome activities of dogs, including intrusions, assaults, and barking (amongst other things) permitted to persist in destroying the natural peace?
If this island wishes to encourage tourism, we need to drop the complacency, considerably up our game in all areas of cleanliness and service provision, and protect our public spaces. If it is so acceptable to have dogs use our beaches to go to the toilet, then we should include graphic (reality) pictures of this activity in tourism promotions and see if potential visitors agree this is acceptable for them. I did not think so. But it is not only tourists, local people are equally disgusted by it – but we do need to support our visitors too. If we would not put it in the brochure, we should not be doing it.
How long do the people have to complain before support arrives and something is done to provide the very basic service of clean and peaceful outdoor public spaces; places we can relax, recharge, and be with nature?
Please, let us drop the clearly-not-working fudge and compromise approach, unashamedly discriminating against the majority, and find real solutions that actually work to deliver quality improvements for local people and our visitors.
People and wildlife must come before the needs of dogs.
VAZON.PROTECT@GMAIL.COM
