wightdogs.com ISLE of WIGHT DOGS and OWNERS

I am a regular visitor to the IOW with my dogs. On reading the council dog control order I noticed that it stated St Helens beach was a dog ban beach, yet when you check the maps of beaches on the same site St Helens is not listed. I emailed the council and asked them and they sent me a reply which said dogs were allowed on St Helens beach all year round. I do wish they would get there facts correct.

Last year on our first day on holiday we were approached by a town warden  (while on the beach) to point out the dogs alllowed area. I could not believe out of such a huge beach dogs were restricted to approx 100 yds. Hardly room for a dog to stretch its legs. Luckily we were over 100 yds out from the sea wall (stupid rule). I did point out that it would be handy to  have some arrows on the seaward side of the wall so you can see when coming back from the foreshore where to approach to come off the beach.

The beach ban at St Helens is a mystery to me as well and I have become quite an expert on the bans. (I appear to understand them a lot better better than both the council and their dog wardens do anyway...lol)

Schedule 1 of the Dog Exclusion Order, with regards to St Helens, states:

"St Helens

The Beach from the Slipway, Northern edge of the Duver for approximately 485 metres to the Southern edge of the beach and in line with the last beach hut"

Yet as you rightly state the maps on the councils website do not show any ban at all at St Helens?!?

They really are beyond belief, could you email me a copy of their email that you refer to, or a scan if its a letter, to wightdogs@googlemail.com please and we will try to get to the bottom of it.

But dont hold your breath as they arent very quick on the uptake, and it will probably take about a year or so before they get a grasp of the situation.

wightdogs at 07:00AM on May 31, 2009

The beach ban at St Helens is a mystery to me as well and I have become quite an expert on the bans. (I appear to understand them a lot better better than both the council and their dog wardens do anyway...lol)

Schedule 1 of the Dog Exclusion Order, with regards to St Helens, states:

"St Helens

The Beach from the Slipway, Northern edge of the Duver for approximately 485 metres to the Southern edge of the beach and in line with the last beach hut"

Yet as you rightly state the maps on the councils website do not show any ban at all at St Helens?!?

They really are beyond belief, could you email me a copy of their email that you refer to, or a scan it its a letter, to wightdogs@googlemail.com pease and we will try to get to the bottom of it.

But dont hold your breath as they arent very quick on the uptake, and it will probably take about a year before they get a grasp of the situation.

 

I sent the email from work so I will try and find it tomorrow. Unfortunately I sent it in Mar or April so I hope I have not deleted the reply. I will let you know tomorrow. Keep up the good work. We intend to retire to the IOW in a few years, and will always have dogs. They love the sea and it is a shame that some spoil sports try and ban them. Think of all the fuss is someone tried to have a child free beach. Oh joy.

This saga is continuing in the blog because as predicted we are unable to obtain a straight answer from the council. (click here to follow proceedings)