YET again we hear the cry for dogs to be banned from the Meadows!   Yes, there are a very small minority of ill-mannered, ill-educated people who do not pick up after their dogs, but this is set against the vast majority of dog owners who treat this area and our town with respect.

The experience of the groundsmen in this instance was awful and disgusting — but there is another side to this coin. I walk my dog every morning through the Meadows and on to Crowndale. I say good morning to the groundsmen and often have a pleasant chat.  

These chaps spend many hours sprucing up and cleaning the Meadows after the two-legged variety of anti-socials! During the summer months the area is regularly left in a disgusting state with litter, used nappies, half-eaten food, etc. The skateboard area is a particular problem with smashed bottles and bottles containing urine, which once held alcohol.   

Obscene graffiti adorns the green shelter, the school underpass and the school itself!  The litter and dog bins are burnt or damaged on a regular basis, perhaps because they are often left for weeks before emptying.   

I am merely and politely trying to put into context the actions of a small minority in our town. All of this behaviour has a commonality, it is a lack of education in citizen/life skills combined with poor role models in peer groups or parents.

The vast majority who live in this beautiful town, respect others and are socially responsible, having a strong civic pride — they have been brought up to know right from wrong.    

I believe that parents and extended families should be taking more responsibility by teaching their offspring social skills and lead by example. Schools should most certainly be involved, in both education and role modelling.  Are life/social skills a part of the school curriculum? If not, perhaps they should be.

A footnote: The councillors stated that toxocara, which can cause eye problems is contained in dog faeces. It is equally prevelant in cat faeces. Do the councillors also call for cats to be banned from back gardens?

John Webb

Parkwood Road

Tavistock

MAY I, through your paper, appeal to dog owners who pick up their dog's mess in a polythene bag to either take it home or put it in the appropriate receptacle and not put it in someone's hedge!

Having a hedge next to a main road it would appear that some owners think this is acceptable, but they don't have to clear up the mess when the hedge is cleared of rubbish, especially when the bag rips!

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