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“Dangerous Dogs” consultation
Coastal access mapping in Dorset
Ascot Countryside Race Day
Download the “Cheltenham” song now
“Dangerous Dogs” consultation
On Tuesday the Government launched a consultation on ‘Dangerous Dogs’ with a fanfare of media coverage about a 12 fold increase in dog fighting and a rising number of dog attacks on postal workers. These issues may, as Ministers suggest, be of growing public concern, but some of the ‘solutions’ proposed in the consultation bare little, if any, relation to the problems they are supposed to address.
The first problem is that despite the consultation supposedly being on ‘Dangerous Dogs’ the most fundamental proposals actually affect all dogs and all dog ownership. The consultation suggests that all dogs should be chipped, and that all dogs should have third party liability insurance. This is a classic example of the Government identifying a problem (i.e. reading about it in the tabloids) and then promoting ‘eye-catching’ solutions which would not actually address the original problem. We all know that the last people who will ever have their dogs micro-chipped or insure them are those who own dogs to fight them or use them as weapons or to intimidate. The burden of these proposals will fall not on those who are a problem, but on those who are no problem at all. Law abiding dog owners whose dogs never pose a threat to anyone will pay millions of pound to chip and insure their dogs whilst the owners of problem dogs continue to ignore the law.
In fact the consultation makes this point itself when it reviews the current legislative framework for dangerous dogs. The Dangerous Dogs Act was amended in 1997 to add a provision for an Index of Exempted Dogs which is essentially a database of dogs of a type prohibited by the Act, which have a stay of execution called a Contingent Destruction Order conditional on a series of requirements from micro-chipping to muzzling. A rapidly growing number of dogs on the Index are not having their third party liability renewed which Defra says is: “indicative that some of the other requirements (muzzled and on a lead in the charge of someone over 16 years old at all times when in a public place) are not being adhered to either”. So the Government accepts that a sizeable proportion of those who have already been identified as owning dangerous dogs are ignoring the explicit restrictions put on them. What hope is there that these sort of people are going to comply with new rules on micro-chipping and insurance?
There are amendments that could be made to improve the current legislation, but in the end dangerous dogs are a social problem in exactly the same way as illegal firearms and knife crime. The solution, beyond dealing with the socio-economic problems that create the problem, is effective enforcement in all communities from urban areas where gang culture dominates, to the travelling community. Just last year Defra said that “legislation was sound” in relation to dangerous dogs, but that “more needed to be done to raise awareness of the law and improve enforcement”. What cannot be justified are new regulations that will be ignored by the owners of problem dogs, and only enforced on those owners of harmless dogs who are unknowingly in breach of them.
Simon Hart
Chief Executive
Coastal access mapping in Dorset
The Marine and Coastal Access Act gives powers to Natural England to create access around England's coast. The Act also gives powers to the Welsh Assembly to develop coastal access around the Welsh coast.
Starting this spring, Natural England will be preparing access reports for different sections of the English coast which will set the coastal route and any associated 'spreading room', as well as any restrictions to take account of existing interests. These reports will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. Natural England’s page on this issue can be found here:
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/places/coastalaccess/default.aspx
It is vital that if you have any interest in coastal land that you make yourself known to Natural England and are fully part of the consultation process from the start.
In drawing up these reports Natural England has to balance public interest with those who have "relevant interest" in the land (eg freeholders, leaseholders and those in "lawful occupation.") Those with a "relevant interest" will have the right to make a formal objection to Natural England's proposals and will have access to an independent appeals process. Everyone else, including those who own sporting rights separate from the land, will only be able to make a representation in writing to Natural England.
The Weymouth stretch of coast is the first area where the costal access rights will be applied. Natural England is working with Dorset County Council on this and the council will be doing the bulk of the day to day work. They are currently doing some background research around Weymouth ahead of starting work in the spring. If you have an interest in land along that stretch of coast you need to make yourself known to Vicki King
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at Natural England and Su Powner
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at Dorset County Council.
There are no other stretches of coast likely to be considered until 2011, but the Alliance will be putting out the contact details both nationally and locally, as each stretch is announced.
Should you have any questions about coastal access then please contact James Legge, Head of Political Section on 020 7840 9263, 07717336767 or email him on
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Ascot Countryside Race Day
Join us for the first ever Ascot Countryside Race Day on Sunday 18th April. It will be a fantastic day for all the family to enjoy with many attractions, including parades of hounds, gundog demonstrations, sheepdog trials, laser shooting, shopping, a bandstand sing song and much more. The day begins with the Huntsman’s Race for Repeal and is followed by an afternoon of top class National Hunt racing.
Grass e-route readers have the opportunity to win four premier admission tickets to the Race Day, worth £104 if you can just answer the following question: Who trained the winner of the 2009 Champion Hurdle? Email your response to
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by 5pm on Tuesday 16th March to be in with a chance.
All Countryside Alliance Members are entitled to substantial discounts on the published ticket prices for the day. Children aged 18 and under are free - to book tickets click here https://www.ascotkiosk.co.uk/connect/index.html or call 0870 727 1234. To qualify for the special Countryside Alliance discount quote promotional code GRASSROOTS.
Download the “Cheltenham” song now
Point-to-point trainer Richard Gurney writes: “Thanks to so many people the dream has now become a reality. The single 'Cheltenham' is out now in the UK and can be downloaded for just 99p. With your help we can make this a huge hit for our four benefiting charities: The Bob Champion Cancer Trust; Riding for the Disabled; Racing Welfare and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Ireland.
“The song has that feel good factor and will undoubtedly have the crowds over the Cheltenham Festival singing along. It is all about having fun. As the song says......'you can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go to Cheltenham'. The hype and anticipation has been building since the recording back in February and now is the time to act.
“We are not 'Racing Against the Machine', and it is true to say we are not in the league of Simon Cowell or Robbie Williams but we are not pretending to be, we simply want to have some fun and raise as much as possible for four great causes. If the single does make the Top 10 it will be down to our supporters and we are very grateful of you taking the time to help us.”
To download your copy of "Cheltenham" now:
By text: Simply text “track 5271 m” to 83262 and follow the instructions (not available on iPhone).
Via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cheltenham/id355200268
Via 7digital: http://www.7digital.com/artists/the-favourites/cheltenham/
“For those of you in Ireland, the single will be released on Friday 12th March and to download, simply, text “music 5271 m” to 57501 and follow the instructions.
“The physical CD will be available from 15th March from selected HMV stores, and online at hmv.co.uk and amazon.co.uk
“On behalf of all those people who will benefit from the great work of the four charities, thank you!” |
