Owners barking mad over dog ban ruling

DOG owners are fuming after being banned from walking their animals on a recreation field.Pet owners in Shipham say they were given no warning before large signs went up saying they could not exercise their dogs on the unused football field by the village hall.One walker, Gill Yeo, of Beech Road, wrote to the Somerset Mercury saying: "I know Shipham is not a big village, but up until now I felt it was a caring, pleasant place to live."However, the dog owners of the village are under attack. The trustees of the football field have felt it necessary to ban all dogs, even from the adjacent field. "There was no polite notice, just two great ugly signs which appeared on June 5."We had only just received a newsletter bringing dog owners' attention to this matter. As a dog owner myself I realize the land is private. However, I have lived in Shipham for the last 12 years and have never been denied access to the area. "It appears access has never been an issue, even when the field was being used for matches."At the moment the field seems to be serving no specific purpose, so this latest action seems to be very heavy handed."Tina Dodd, the chairman of the parish plan group, said: "I think there are strong views for and against dog walking on the field."The dog owners I've spoken to who are upset are those who have used the field for some time. I think some people are worried about the older residents who benefit from a flat area where they can park nearby."Football club secretary Neil Bisdee, of Rowberrow Lane, said: "A lot of people are under the misconception that the field is common land, but it is not. We are in the process of starting up the club again and dog mess and football matches don't go together. Even when people clear up after their dogs, it's not very nice.