Hole hazard for dog owners in Benfleet

1:00pm Thursday 4th October 2012 in Local News By Luke Lambert

Michael Hennessy and Skye next to one of the goal post holes Michael Hennessy and Skye next to one of the goal post holes

DANGER for dogs is lying in wait at a Benfleet park according to one concerned resident.

Michael Hennessy, 71, from Oakfield Road in Benfleet said he had been walking his two-year-old Sheltie dog Skye in Richmond Park when one of her legs disappeared down a hole left by a removed goal frame.

The goal posts, which have recently been installed at Richmond Park on High Road, have left holes estimated to be 18 inches deep and Mr Hennessy said it was lucky his dog hadn’t broken her leg.

He raised the issue at Monday night’s Benfleet Community meeting.

“This should be a big concern to all dog owners and I am very worried that this is an accident waiting to happen. I walk here often with Skye and I think that if a dog was off the lead and running there could be some serious consequences for the dog.”

There are two football pitches next to each other at the park meaning there are eight holes in total. The pitches are not aligned meaning it is hard for dog owners to know where the holes will be.

Councillor Colin Riley, who chaired the meeting in the absence of voted Chairman Tom Skipp, said he would raise the issue with Castle Point Borough Council with a view to fixing the problem as soon as possible.

Comments(21)

Dissappointed says...
1:17pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Is this all some people have to worry about? REALLY? Lets waste a load of time having a meeting about it.

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barrylabs says...
2:32pm Thu 4 Oct 12

"The pitches are not aligned meaning it is hard for dog owners to know where the holes will be"......usually on that white line at the back of the 18 yard box.

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southendshrimper says...
2:39pm Thu 4 Oct 12

another slow news day for the echo then.
More of a hazard must be the dogs mess some owners leave behind.
Just a word of warning to Mr Hennessy there is a small hole in the ground in the US its called the grand canyon.

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Eric Whim says...
3:46pm Thu 4 Oct 12

don't let on that there's eight holes up to eighteen inches deep in that field or else some semi-responsible dog owner will start using them to dump their dogsh1t filled bags in rather than carry them all the way across the field to the dogdung receptacle undoubtedly provided by their caring council afterpicking up after heir pet alimentary canal

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Basildon.lad.21 says...
3:54pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Mr hennessey. Its quite simple. If you dont like the park, then dont go. And have you ever thought about using your eyes to look where your going? If you used them you might see these holes. Or are you too old to not see them? They certainly look big enough to me.

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alimac69 says...
4:24pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Reminds me of the Vicar of Dibley when Geraldine is jumping in puddles then jumps in one and disappears.

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Blind Haze says...
4:33pm Thu 4 Oct 12

No win situation - you remove the football pitches, people will complain that there's nowhere for their son to play football. You leave the goalposts standing 24/7 then they'll be vandalised. And, as this story says, you take the goalposts out then people will complain that there's holes that dogs can fall down.

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5759 says...
5:00pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Great, so it's you that lets your dog sh*t all over the football pitches that the kids play on.....Nice!!!

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Brunning999 says...
6:42pm Thu 4 Oct 12

Wot a lot of Boe loks, silly old fool does he really believe that there is always someone looking after him!

If he is that worried fill it in himself and he seems to be full of 5hit.

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muffindamule says...
7:27pm Thu 4 Oct 12

I'm glad I don't have to play there. If it's being used to walk dogs then it's a fair bet that the dog's mess is going to be a greater threat than the opposing team.

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InTheKnowOk says...
8:12pm Thu 4 Oct 12

More interestingly, why can't we comment on any of the Travellers stories?

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Nebs says...
9:18pm Thu 4 Oct 12

muffindamule wrote:
I'm glad I don't have to play there. If it's being used to walk dogs then it's a fair bet that the dog's mess is going to be a greater threat than the opposing team.
There is plenty of space around the outside of the pitches to exercise dogs. Any owner that lets their dog run free in an area where children regularly play is irresponsible.

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Brunning999 says...
5:57am Fri 5 Oct 12

InTheKnowOk wrote:
More interestingly, why can't we comment on any of the Travellers stories?
Simple because the overwhelming majority of the British public be they from any section of the community are totally opposed to lawless criminal gangs and feel cheated by The Law which allows Travellers to do exactly what they want with impunity, resulting in frustration and anger and the only place to express that anger is thro the freedom of the press which has been censored.

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Camp Incontinent says...
6:31am Fri 5 Oct 12

Well said Brunning. Good man !

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InTheKnowOk says...
8:42am Fri 5 Oct 12

CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a permanent travellers site on green belt land in Thundersley could go ahead no matter what, it is feared ............... So controversial that we can't even comment on the story! ... What happend to 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH'??

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InTheKnowOk says...
8:47am Fri 5 Oct 12

Patrick and Miles McCarthy paid £83,500 in 'CASH' for the two-acre-site in June this year - both have links to the former Dale Farm site in Crays Hill ...

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Camp Incontinent says...
9:02am Fri 5 Oct 12

InTheKnowOk wrote:
CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a permanent travellers site on green belt land in Thundersley could go ahead no matter what, it is feared ............... So controversial that we can't even comment on the story! ... What happend to 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH'??
It went out the window when travellers arrived through the back door.

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Gina the leaner weaner says...
10:30am Fri 5 Oct 12

The 'Travellers' at DF were very adept at moving goal posts. I wonder if they will try the same tactics at Thundersley?

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Curbishly says...
12:18pm Fri 5 Oct 12

InTheKnowOk wrote:
CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a permanent travellers site on green belt land in Thundersley could go ahead no matter what, it is feared ............... So controversial that we can't even comment on the story! ... What happend to 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH'??
"Freedom of Speech".

If you want free speech then post your comments under your real name and address instead of a pseudonym.

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Pi Quai says...
3:38pm Fri 5 Oct 12

@ Mr/Mrs. Curbishly of no house number from the street with no name in a town called nowhere.
That would be highly discriminatory towards those of us with no fixed address. It doesn't stop you posting your full details though if that's what you want to do.

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InTheKnowOk says...
4:04pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Curbishly wrote:
InTheKnowOk wrote:
CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a permanent travellers site on green belt land in Thundersley could go ahead no matter what, it is feared ............... So controversial that we can't even comment on the story! ... What happend to 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH'??
"Freedom of Speech".

If you want free speech then post your comments under your real name and address instead of a pseudonym.
Pseudonyms - You'd know all about them !... Now get back to the thread about the drugs raid !

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