WITH reference to the article in the Echo, Take the Lead” (Nov 11) it is heartening to see that the council has at last taken on board the problem of dogs in the borough.

As a regular user of the beach at Overcome Corner I have noticed many incidents involving dog fouling and dogs off the lead running amok, and I use the term advisedly, urinating on beach users’ windbreaks etc.

The usual response of the owner when challenged is that “he/she doesn’t mean any harm” but having had a dog, usually soaking wet from a dip in the sea rush through your encampment is not what you go to the beach for.

As the Overcome Beach has become more and more popular over recent years I think the time has come to extend the ban, currently in place on the main beach during the summer months, to this area.

The recent letter from the owner of the Oasis Cafe, which highlighted the problem of dog fouling and owners failing to pick up, was very true and you only have to take a walk from Greenhill to Overcome to witness what he was complaining about.

Change the bylaws and if a ban at Overcome is introduced this will need to be policed and fines imposed on those caught; but this will probably not happen. During a conversation with the dog warden a while ago he assured It seems to me that the local magistrates rarely action any summonses for dog fouling so why change the law if nothing is done?

Sorry you dog lovers, I know that this letter will offend some of you but if you control your animal then there isn’t a problem.

Those of you who don’t pick up the mess or let your dog run free will of course not be offended at all.

G Howlett

Mawdywall

Preston

Weymouth