SIR: Mr Fox (Viewpoint, October 14) is mistaken. It is a lack of public commitment, and a selfish attitude by a few, that makes our public spaces hazardous.

I keep my dogs on a leash, and clean up after then when I walk them on my local park. Who will clean away the broken glass, glue bags, bits of play-park surface, broken saplings and cigarette ends that have been left by anti-social people?

Public parks could be better funded by the charging of admission fees - free roaming children are as big a nuisance as free roaming dogs, both let go by those who do not care how unpleasant they make life for other people, and both unable to take note of prohibition notices. I walk my dogs on parks in other municipalities, and Bolton's parks look starved of money and amenities in comparison.

The Council should levy the £10 dog licence that it has the power to do (no discounts for pensioners) and use the money to prosecute those who foul the environment, whether personally, or via their pets or their offspring.

R A Pearce, Hawthorne Road, Deane

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