Huge response to dog plan

More than 360 individual objections to bylaws which would stop dog owners letting their pets off the lead in The Quarry in Shrewsbury have been received by town licensing bosses.

Public consultation by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council on the bylaws ended today.

Campaigner Emma Suter, of Copthorne Veterinary Clinic, this morning handed over a petition containing hundreds more signatures.

She said: "There has been a big response and, frankly, if we don't get somewhere with this, then democracy is dead."

But Carol Foster, council licensing officer, said some people had misinterpreted the extent of the orders. "Many people have objected to leads being on pets at all times in the borough, but this would not be the case," she said.

The order would restrict dogs being let off the lead in allotments, cemeteries, school fields, all public roads and footpaths, pavements and verges next to those roads, which includes The Quarry. The campaign came after councillors amended a bylaw governing The Quarry under the Public Health Act.

It states dogs will not be allowed to enter or remain in the area unless kept "under control". It was amended to "in control means on a lead".

Dog owners could face prosecution and fines of up to £1,000 if they break the by-law. A revised set of orders will now be drawn up which councillors will discuss on November 12.