Wellesbourne dog owners anger as Dog Close nature reserve is closed to dogs
DOG lovers in Wellesbourne will not be able to walk their pets in an area of land known as Dog Close as the parish council is sticking with its plans to create a nature reserve on the site which doesn’t allow four-legged friends.
At a meeting of Wellesbourne Parish Council last week it was decided that dogs would not be allowed in Dog Close. Cllr Anne Prior, chairman of Wellesbourne and Walton Parish Council, said: “The council met to discuss the future of the parcel of land currently called Dog Close. It is the parish council’s intention to create a tranquil place where people and children can go and rest, sit peacefully, study the environmental features and wildlife and help with the community orchard we plan to develop.
“We are encouraging all the wildlife we currently have and developing a habitat to bring more to the area including wild meadow areas.
“It is intended that the area is inclusive of all but to allow this to happen we cannot for the foreseeable future have dogs in the area.
“Green, quiet tranquil spaces are essential for mental wellbeing as has been shown over the last couple of years and this area will provide that.
“While we are working on the area, we will also be running a survey of names appropriate to the vision for the land and this will go out to residents in the coming months. For residents who wish to walk their dogs, there are other areas available in the village and surrounding land, this is a special piece of land which will offer all residents the space they need. We intend to open the area in 2023 for residents’ enjoyment.”
The decision will disappoint dog owners in the village who say there isn’t enough walking space for dogs and the nature reserve would have been an ideal place to exercise as it’s right on their doorstep, instead it will probably mean more car journeys for most of them to an area where they can walk their pets. They are also frustrated over the lack of public consultation. Many hoped the area would be opened as a community space that included dog walkers.
They state they are responsible owners who would keep their pets on a lead and clean up after them. Wellesbourne resident Jan Willows, who is also a dog owner, said when she attended a recent open day at Dog Close she was surprised to find out dogs wouldn’t be allowed on the site.
“There was an open day held at Dog Close with a view that the parish council were creating a community green space but even the people who volunteered to make the green space happen didn’t know that dogs wouldn’t be allowed,” she said.
“It was only when I got there that I was told you cannot walk the dogs in the area because of the wildlife I also learnt that a further ten people hadn’t realised they wouldn’t be able to walk their dogs either. There hasn’t been any consultation with the parish council and I do understand they want to make it a nature reserve but I feel responsible dog owners are being penalised. We’re being encouraged to take small measures to reduce our carbon footprint which everybody should make but driving to take a dog for a walk isn’t going to help.”
Recent postings on social media in Wellesbourne reflect dog owners’ concerns there are few walking areas for dogs in the village, which often means the only option is to drive somewhere to take their dogs for a walk:
- ‘As a responsible dog owner, Wellesbourne is a joke we have nowhere for dogs to have a good run. More car journeys to walk the dog.’
- ‘Seems to be getting harder and harder to find somewhere to walk dogs these days.’
- ‘I like that it’s ‘no dogs’ … I’m nervous around dogs despite reassurances of dog owners. Some dogs are off leads when they shouldn’t be as well.’
Cllr Prior, told the Herald: “There has been public consultation when an open day was held and residents were invited to look around, look at the plans and ask questions about the nature reserve development and we do understand the passion of dog owners in the parish. Dog Close has no historical reason why it should be called Dog Close, it’s just one of those things. The parish council is very lucky to have such an open space available.”