SIR: I am totally bemused by the fact there there are apparently no restrictions in force banning dog owners from taking their pets onto the same public parks used by families and their children for playing and eating on. It is also pointless having heavy fines signposted for dog fouling if there is no endorsements of the rules.

If the local authority are content to let dog owners, and their pets, have unlimited access to (and the dogs obviously defecate on) public parks then here are a few practical suggestions:

Have designated 'clean' parks in the borough; by banning animals from being taken onto selected parks. Therefore at least I would know which parts it was safe and clean to take my children to play on and which it wasn't.

Alternatively, cordon off an area of each public park for dogs to go about their business with their owners. Say one quarter would be more than sufficient. These 'doggie' areas would obviously have to be either clearly marked and initially enforced.

Someone in authority has got to make a positive decision rather than ignore this matter and pretend there isn't a problem. Either parks are prioritised for families and children, or for use by animals. The two do not work together.

Mr I Fox

St Germain Street, Farnworth

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.