A mistake made by the council back in 2010 to the signage banning dogs from the beach on Ventnor esplanade has resulted in a row breaking out between beach-goers and dog-owners.
The original signage (above) shows that dogs are banned from a large section of the beach from 1st May until 30th September. However, as you can see from the photo, the western end of the beach beyond the groyne (beneath the Spyglass Inn) indicates no ban.
Contradicting signs
As a result, dog-owners have continued visiting the western end of the beach during the summer period, using the steps in the banned area to reach where they thought they were permitted to be.
This signage (pictured) actually contradicted three other signs along the seafront which made clear there is an entire beach ban for dogs during the summer period.
Incorrect signage removed
Following complaints from beach goers that dogs were using the area of the beach they were banned from, the Isle of Wight council got involved and now admit that this signage was incorrect, has been removed and dogs are banned from the entire beach during 1st May to 30th September.
Shirley Smart, IW Council cabinet member responsible for tourism and economy said:
“The by-law on Ventnor Beach which bans dogs on the beach between the period of 1 May until 30 September was brought in back in 2010. This is not a new by-law. Unfortunately due to an error on our part, one sign at the far end of the beach stating dogs were allowed was not removed at that time.
“Correct signage is already in place at various points on the beach and we will shortly be installing a new sign at the far end of the beach with the correct information. We apologise for the oversight in not removing the incorrect sign and will ensure this does not happen again.”
Beach-goers’ concerns
OnTheWight was first alerted to problem at the beginning of the summer season, after a local resident got in touch expressing his concern about dog owners using the beach.
He told us that he’d politely approached dog owners on several occasions after being concerned that his young toddler might come into contact with dog urine or faeces, but was met with opposition by dog owners.
Dog-owners outraged
OnTheWight has also been approached local resident Bob Bowden, a dog-owner who has expressed his and other dog owners’ anger at the signage being changed without consultation.
Mr Bowden argues that the ban was brought in with indecent haste, zero notice, with no discussion and no admittance that the situation has been allowed/caused to exist due to IWC signage being in place for approx. four years.
Consultation suggestion rejected
He tells OnTheWight that he’s been in communication with a council officer responsible for the area and called for the entire dog ban to be lifted whilst consultation with dog-owners took place.
The officer told Mr Bowden,
“Although your suggestion of a compromise is very reasonable, we are not legally in a position to put a temporary stop on an Exclusion Order without carrying out a consultation process first. By the time this was completed the summer would be over and the dogs would be allowed back on the beach during the winter.”
VTC not responsible
Mr Bowden also expressed his anger at the Ventnor Town council.
We spoke with clerk for the VTC, David Bartlett, this morning who informed OnTheWight that the issue has nothing to do with them.
He confirmed that his note about the ban in the recent South Wight Chronicle was simply to clarify the situation for dog-owners who had been in touch about the change of signage carried out by the Isle of Wight council.
