Designated Cardigan dog park 'would eliminate dog fouling problem'

The move follows the revelation by Cllr Clive Davies that one in three townspeople now own dogs.

And it comes hard on the heels of the council’s pledge to address continuing complaints about dog fouling on local sports pitches and children’s play areas.

“It’s ridiculous when you have instances of local rugby and football players having to ensure their pitch is free from dog mess before starting a game,” Cllr John Adams-Lewis told colleagues, during a discussion on providing three new ‘No Dogs’ signs on the King George V Playing Fields.

Cllr Sian Maehrlein said that, given the number of dogs in town, attempts should be made to create a dog park.

“There are loads in England,” she told fellow councillors.

“I think such a facility would be beneficial to Cardigan because we could then ban dogs from all public parks and rid ourselves of this constant problem once and for all.”

Cllr Catrin Miles said she was under the impression dogs were already banned from playing fields.

Cllr Richard Jones agreed that dog owners needed a designated area in which to exercise their pets, pointing out a strip of land opposite the town’s new Integrated Health Centre which he felt could be made into a dog park.

He also offered to team up with Cllr Maehrlein and town clerk Eleri Maskell to draw up a list of potential alternative sites in Cardigan.

“When I suggested setting up a dog park eight years ago everyone laughed at me,” he observed.

Cllr Davies suggested Victoria Gardens could be on the list, adding that the greenfield site at Maesglas would not be suitable due to the close proximity of a children’s play area.

However, Cllr Maehrlein described the Maesglas area as ‘massive’, adding that due to its size it could not be readily discounted.

Cllr Trystan Phillips conceded there would be pros and cons attached to all suggested sites.

“But we are going to have to try and pinpoint the right location,” he added.