I have received a flyer from the Conservatives stating they will 'keep our green spaces accessible and clean', which I take to mean they want to continue this odious policy of bullying us. What do you take it to mean??
To see what the other parties think, I have sent this letter to the Greens and Lib Dems.
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Hello,
I would like to know your policy on the current Public Spaces Protection Order on dogs on lead on sports pitches that started in 2020 in Plymouth.
The recreation grounds and parks that had any football, rugby or cricket pitch suffered a change of use. As from 2020, the green spaces that had been universally enjoyed by the residents of Plymouth became the target of a massive restriction. Sixteen recreational spaces became areas where Plymouth City Council forbade us from walking our dogs off-lead. All kinds of problems have ensued from this change.
Firstly, the majority of people, whether dog owners or not, did not know about this PSPO. So they continued to enter the fields they had always used, and as their dogs crossed the white line around the football pitch, a dog warden took a photo of their dog crossing the white line, then asked for your name, address, date of birth and email address. We were always told that if we did not comply they would call the police. This saw the Fixed Penalty Notices rocket up, and currently the town council has netted over £40,000 from this type of fine alone, to the end of 2022. Please note, the incidence of owners being fined for not picking up dog dirt has not changed one iota.
What the council has done is massive. It has made people fearful of using their local fields. Here in Plymstock at Dean Cross fields, the number of people exercising their dogs has reduced dramatically. People have been confronted by wardens with body cameras who have photographed their dogs crossing a white lines and often the result is incomprehension, tears and a refusal to return to the fields.
Further, the methods used to impose this new ban are outrageous. Bullying, harassment, threats, stalking, entrapment, lying are all used to pursue their goals.
This PSPO has been introduced without due care being paid to the Local Government Association 'Guidance for councils'. In this document, councils are urged to consult with local people on how the measure is affecting them, something that PCC has not done. They are advised not to reduce the space available to the public where dogs can be exercised. The council has paid no heed to this. Pages of advice has gone unheeded.
I have written to my councillor to complain about various aspects of this odious order, but she has not replied to my three communications.
So, I started a petition that is gaining ground across town, asking the council to rescind the PSPO, and focus on fining those who do not pick up after their dog.
I attach a link to the petition and also a link to an article from Plymouth Herald that describes one encounter with the wardens. There have been many, many others. I also attach a Face Book link and a You Tube link.
It is vital for us to find a candidate who would fight to revoke this PSPO. It affects thousands upon thousands of local people.
Would you please take the time to let us know how you would deal with this issue if you were in power.
Sincerely,
Judy Latimer
11 FEB 2023 —
Face Book: whitelinesfines
https://www.change.org/whitelinesfines
YouTube: whitelinesfines v Plymouth City Council