REGARDING the council debate over applying new legislation making it an offence not to clear up after a dog which fouls in the parks, although 15 years since the by-law banning dogs from all three major parks in Burnley was introduced, I am still deeply saddened when the subject is raised.

After 12 unhappy years due to that by-law, our family left Burnley when my husband retired. We now live happily in South Manchester where there are no such bans.

I remember how emotional I felt when my husband and I walked with our dogs in our local park for the first time. I wanted to rush to every dog owner and tell them how lucky they were to enjoy such beauty while walking their dogs.

I will never forget the tears of the elderly dog owners in Burnley who could no longer enjoy their park because, naturally, they wouldn't leave their companion at home and walk alone. For those people, I spent three weeks in Holloway Prison as a means of demonstrating their unhappiness.

People should be made to clear up after their pets. Equally, anyone leaving litter or breaking glass or spitting should be made to clean up. All these could be included in the same proposed legislation, with a fine for all irresponsible park users. Don't just target the dogs.

My original proposal to Burnley Council was to let the by-law apply only to children's play areas and picnic areas, to allow dogs to run freely in wooded areas, be kept on a lead in garden areas and to be under control at all times.

Once again, I would like to ask the council to consider this, and apply it to all the parks. This could be the time to discuss the re-opening of Thompson and Queens Parks to those people who have a dog companion and let the new legislation cover not just the irresponsible dog owners but all irresponsible park users.

MAVIS F THORNTON, Lingard Road, Northenden, Manchester.

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