IN connection with the recent restriction on dog walking on certain sections of Weston beach, I suspect the real issue is financial - the council is not prepared to allocate sufficient resources to the provision and emptying of dog bins, or to policing er

IN connection with the recent restriction on dog walking on certain sections of Weston beach, I suspect the real issue is financial - the council is not prepared to allocate sufficient resources to the provision and emptying of dog bins, or to policing errant owners. In my opinion a few well publicised prosecutions for failure to pick up after dogs would be a far better way to ensure a clean beach, but perhaps the council's preferred approach has revealed their hidden agenda. Has anyone else heard the rumour about their plan for 2008, to ban from the beach all children, picnics, and packaged food items such as candyfloss and ice lollies? The clear benefit (clear to the council, at least) will be the cost savings on litter bin provision, litter collection, and general beach cleaning. It is hoped that the move will automatically generate further savings in 2009, when reduced visitor numbers will permit the removal of all waste bins on the promenade, in the parks, and in the town centre. However, should this extra benefit not transpire, plans will be put in place to ban all holidaymakers from all public areas. Allegedly one councillor commented that he saw these measures as a positive step towards ridding Weston of the blight of people enjoying themselves. All plans will of course be subject to the usual public consultation, namely giving them just enough publicity to pay lip service to the consultation stage, but not enough to generate negative feedback until after the council has presented the town with a fait accompli.N JENKINS - Royal Sands, Weston