IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners are endangering children by using Okehampton College?s playing fields to exercise their animals, says principal Chris Powell. And when college staff have challenged the dog walkers they are frequently met with verbal abuse and physical threats. Mr Powell said it was ?completely unacceptable? for the public to use playing fields to exercise dogs, given health risks associated with dog faeces and the danger of dogs interfering with lessons on the field. College staff would continue to challenge anyone exercising dogs on the fields, he said. Mr Powell was responding to a letter in the Times last week by town councillor Charles Letchford about complaints that college staff had tried to prevent people from using a public right of way along the wall on the eastern side of the college cricket field. Mr Powell told the town council?s park?s committee on Monday there was never any intention on the part of the college to challenge people using the right of way in the correct manner. ?If any member of the public feels they have been challenged about the correct use of this right of way they have my unreserved apology.? But Mr Powell said he would be approaching Devon County Council to apply to have the right of way moved approximately 400 metres further east, immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the college playing field. Mr Powell said: ?There are issues to do with school security, but the main concern is the dog situation and the increasing amount of aggravation from dog walkers who feel they have got a right to take dogs where they like. ?Dogs are being walked on the site at all times of the day and people come from all different directions. It is a matter of considerable concern. We have had situations where coaching has had to stop when dogs went to attack youngsters.? Mr Powell said dog faeces could spread the disease toxocariasis, which can cause blindness in children. He also wanted to stop people using the school fields as a short cut to the Parklands leisure centre. ?These people frequently park illegally in our parks thus avoiding the car parking charges in the council car park located in Simmons Park. ?There are also individuals who play golf on the fields and others who come on to the all-weather pitch when lessons are taking place.? He said recently when challenging such an individual, a young female teacher was sworn at in front of her class of students. Cllr Letchford said he was happy to accept the college was not trying to exclude anyone from the footpath, but it could be down to an ?over-zealous? attitude of a staff member. Chairman of governors John Stevens, said: ?Our concerns are strictly with regard to the health and safety of the pupils at the college and there is no doubt in many cases that dog walkers are using the wrong pathway. ?Even those who walk on the permitted pathway sometimes allow their dogs to foul the area without removing the faeces. That is indefensible and the college would be failing in its duty if staff ignored those who offend.? Mr Powell said new signs would be made informing the public of where the right of way is and that the walking of dogs on other parts of the college grounds was prohibited. He called on dog owners using the right of way to keep their pets on a lead and under control and to collect and dispose of any dog mess appropriately. In the short term, the college would put up a fence to restrict people to using the correct route. Letters would also be placed on the windscreens of people parking illegally during school hours, informing them that the correct place for them to park is in the council car park should they wish to access the leisure centre.
