CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a total ban on dogs using Watchet's Memorial Ground have been kicked into touch.

But town councillors who debated the thorny issue at an extraordinary meeting on Monday have backed a compromise solution aimed at appeasing both dog owners and sports players.

They agreed that the ground's pitches - used regularly by football and cricket teams - would become a dog-free zone in a bid to tackle the problem of dog mess.

But a dog walking "corridor" would be created around the perimeter where dogs would only be allowed on leads.

The suggestion came from Cllr Vincent Woods - who declared a personal interest in the issue at the start of the meeting because he is a dog owner.

He said the council, which had put forward the possible ban following complaints about dog mess, accepted the need to control dogs but stopped short of a complete exclusion order.

The authority would consider fencing an area, it was hoped with the cost shared with the Memorial Ground Management Committee.

The compromise was welcomed by opponents of the ban, who had claimed it would penalise elderly and disabled dog owners who needed somewhere central, accessible and on the flat to exercise their pets.

Sara Summers, one of the leaders of a campaign and petition against the proposal, said after the meeting: "I am so glad that the town council had the sense to go with the compromise of dogs on leads and exclusion in the sports area.

"All we wanted was harmony where we all could use the ground and use it with respect.

"I would like to thank the council as the original petitioner for looking at the many letters and providing us with a fair conclusion.

"As a disabled member of the Watchet community I am proud to see minorities get supported and get a fair hearing."

But Memorial Ground Management Committee chairman Jimmy Nicholas was more reticent and said he wanted the details of the decision clarified.

"If they can protect the play areas, that will be an improvement but we need to know more about where the fencing would go," he said.

"I can see lots of problems with this."

And Mr Nicholas warned that his committee had no money to pay towards the fencing and that grant aid would have to be sought.

There was standing room only at the special meeting, with more than a dozen local residents speaking on both sides of the debate, leading to occasional outbursts and flared tempers.

As the first speaker, Mr Nicholas reminded councillors and the public that it was an offence to foul public play areas.

But he said dog mess had to be cleared from the pitches at nearly every game.

He said the committee needed the income from sports teams to keep the ground going and without it, closure and selling off the land would have to be considered.

"The vitriol by some anti-ban supporters shown to the town council, its staff and to management committee members has been appalling and not conducive to finding a solution," said Mr Nicholas.

"The committee is utterly frustrated that after 20 years the problem is worse than ever."

And qualified Football Association referee David Milton, who is also a cricket coach, said too many dog owners were not "playing the game".

He said he had experienced many incidents of dogs out of control and urinating on equipment during both football and cricket games.

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