SIR — Re. ‘Dog ban on Minehead beach to stay’ (Free Press, August 14): It is interesting that, when the council is petitioned to remove a restriction, a very costly feasibility study has to be introduced. I don’t recall any such feasibility study when the ban was introduced and evidence to support it or whether the cost of policing such a ban would be in the public interest and acceptable to Council Tax payers.

Does it occur to anyone that the restrictions we place on ourselves as ‘law abiding citizens’ reduces our freedoms? Does it occur to anyone that we bang on about the sacrifice of thousands of lives defending our freedoms in the last war but at the same time allow them very quickly to be eroded away by accepting these sort of freedom restricting bans?

To understand the connection, think about how the council ignores the requests of the people of Minehead. That is a form of dictatorship and ‘your’ say in the matter is not to be listened to.

In the meantime, somebody who cares nothing for rules will persistently flout them. They do so because a rule that can’t be policed is a poor rule. This ban is against those people who live by the rules of a so-called free society and not against those that don’t care for rules.

As far as feasibility studies are concerned, why not just accept the will of the people who can be bothered to change the ban for the sake of freedom and take a small risk? After all, these are Council Tax payers and the residents of Minehead. If some revenue can be created through fines, why not do as Italy has done and have records of resident’s canine DNA on file with vets so that those who allow their pets to foul the beaches, footpaths and back alleys to be traced and heavily fined. It works in Italy so there’s a factual feasibility study, gratis.  

I would imagine the income could be in excess of £50,000 a year in the back alley of my house alone. The dog warden could then be collecting evidence instead of trying to get the names and addresses of the rule breakers. Give him/her a nominal salary and ten per cent of successful prosecutions to make the job worthwhile. If it is considered demeaning to pick up other people’s filth then spare a thought for us residents who have to do it daily and don’t get paid.

Why are back alleys being used? Because, they are mostly out of sight and there are no disapproving eyes to witness it. There are hundreds of disapproving eyes on the beach and that alone will police the errant dog owner.

A ban does not stop those intent on doing something. That includes ‘no ball games in Blenheim Gardens, no cycling, no consumption of alcohol’. I could go on but I think that those who abide by them will immediately understand who the rules affect most.

We are creating a life for ourselves that is getting increasingly narrow. The freedoms we once enjoyed and fought for are only enjoyed by the rule-breakers and those who enjoy life outside our society’s laws. Some might argue that if the rules are relaxed then there is always a few who will take liberties. These few are already taking liberties, despite the ban. Wake up Minehead and smell the alleys.

Jan Saunders-Singer,

Summerland Road,

Minehead.