While dogs and their behaviour are their owners’ responsibility, the subject is following the anti-smoking direction.

Canvey Town Council should be tactful with its way forward so as not to alienate owners or residents.

Dogs should be banned from the beach during late spring and summer and be on a lead in urban areas.

It is not acceptable for dogs to be loose on playing fields unless no sporting activities are taking place.

The planned development of the Dutch Village fields will make off-lead exercise impossible.

Playing fields will be fouled by dogs with bad owners, the RSPB site at West Canvey Marsh, I suspect, will eventually exclude dog walkers.

On-the-spot fines for dog fouling on the seafront are a necessity, however, as a family recreation facility it should be thoroughly cleaned of all rubbish as well as dog mess before every spring and summer weekend.

It is not good enough to say the council’s machine to clean dog mess is out of order.

Persuasion as a first resort, followed by education, with legislation as a last resort plus adequate open space, before it all disappears, should avoid a dog-owners witch-hunt.

G Bracci
Holland Avenue
Canvey