Remove dogs from Vazon

Vazon Bay is used year-round for a range of recreation and leisure activities. Nowhere are humans in such close contact with the environment than on the beach. Why then are dog bans not being enforced? Having complained for many years with no effective response, I am resigned to conclude there must be something sinister going on behind the scenes, motivated to ensure islanders and unsuspecting visitors are perpetually exposed to dog urine and excrement; hazardous substances known to be harmful to human health, with the potential for serious or ultimate consequence. Dog saliva can also be lethal in certain circumstances. Can all dog owners and walkers please respect the bans and amongst other responsibilities keep dogs under complete physical control at all times. Please also keep noisy ones quiet instead of ruining the peace and natural symphony of the beach.

Between and including 1 May and 31 July this year, 1,094 dog ban breaches have been recorded at Vazon, perpetrated by individuals who should not be permitted charge of any animal. Can’t these irresponsible people understand the presence of any dog on the beach instantly raises questions about the cleanliness and safety of the place, in addition to setting a bad example to other dog walkers? Our public spaces should be reliably clean and safe, trustworthy and free of hazard and nuisance, available for everyone to enjoy and relax – not a dumping ground for dog wastes (faecal and urine), neither a place of uncertainty, disruption and threat.

Guernsey government is costing the public a lot of money, with its high salaries and pensions, and extreme redundancy packages, such that we naturally expect the highest level of service in return. However, our public spaces are a basic essential, with the current situation that can only be described as both a national embarrassment and a scandalous betrayal that more government planning, care and protection of our public spaces is not already prioritised. Meaningful and effective enforcement action against the too many selfish and irresponsible dog owner /walkers that breach dog bans, is long overdue.

Vazon Bay is used year-round for a variety of recreational and leisure interests, is home to a range of interesting marine life and an attractive location for seabirds too – both local and migrating. Birds that would like (need) to spend more year-round time at Vazon, but are too often deterred from landing, or when they do land, before long disrupted and scared off by various canine related activity and behaviour.

It is wrong, heartfelt letters have to be repeatedly written in this way, including repeated complaints made directly to government departments, asking for help with serious issues that ought to already be taken care of. Unsurprisingly, Guernsey people do not go to the beach to sit down in a dog toilet, neither be forced to watch the disgusting deposit and accumulation of such contamination from source, whilst eating our sandwiches or chippy-chips, or simply trying to relax amongst other things. Safe to add our valued tourists do not pay good money for such a vile and degrading experience either.

Dog misbehaviours, fouling, and ban breaches damage confidence in our outdoor spaces and raises ‘the eye of suspicion’ upon all dog owner/walkers. The lack of any dog-free, reliable public spaces, combined with very poor (zero) enforcement of dog ban areas, erodes respect and trust in government and our enforcement services. Wake up, wake up, wake up States of Guernsey, then please fix this vile, intrusive and damaging mess, that has continued in your full knowledge for far too long.

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