Wirral News Letters: July 20

Jul 20 2011 Birkenhead News

Time for dog clampdown

I AM not usually someone who sings the praises of the police, but they have done themselves proud today. After two rottweilers attacked my dogs up Bidston Hill (with the owner merely laughing at my hysteria) a response car came to me in seven minutes.

The officers were very concerned and assured me that dangerous dog behaviour is not acceptable.

A warning to all Bidston Hill walkers, this incident happened at 9.20am on Sunday, July 17.

Two of my small dogs were on leash and two were off. The dog of an elderly man ran over to us, and these rottweilers followed.

The owner obviously knew what they were like, as he ran in hot pursuit.

Both of the rottweilers went for my on-leash dogs, shaking them like rag dolls. I was hysterically upset, and told the man they should be on leads. His response? “They were reacting to aggression”!

He took no responsibility, didn’t check if mine were OK or if I was OK.

It’s time for a clampdown on dog ownership, you should need to be vetted to own such breeds.

If the man hadn’t pulled them off, they would have killed mine.

I am more upset at the bystanding man who said nothing.

If his dog was attacked, I'd be the first to try and help. Remember, “Evil prevails when good men do nothing”. The incident is logged with the police and dog warden, hopefully something will be done before these dogs kill.

Gemma Ahearne

Oxton

Consult us

MANY residents of West Kirby will support Cllr Phil Davies’ push towards improving the North West Wirral area.

Before planning new ventures for West Kirby, planners should realise that the area already offers visitors many good-value amenities which should be improved, not compromised by new development.

The area is used by day trippers, whether to sit on the beach, sail or wind surf on the lake, walk amongst the wildlife or just enjoy the views and the fresh air by walking along the prom.

None of the existing users of West Kirby’s amenities want to stay overnight.

Keep the parks and open spaces clean and tidy, improve transport and maintain roads and pavements, refurbish the station area, after that consult with the lake users and other interested groups before placing new contracts for development.

A.N. James

West Kirby

Voting views

THE Wirral electorate is currently being consulted about its polling stations by the Local Authority Electoral Services but the remit of this consultation seems to be limited to the siting of polling stations across the borough.

Faced with declining numbers of the population who participate in elections (especially local elections) and the enormous cost of running the traditional system of polling stations, surely it is time to “think out of the box” and consider radical reform of the way in which we vote.

We have had traditional polling stationsfor well over 100 years. They are expensive and out-dated. Most of us now have access to the internet which is an ideal medium for voting in the modern age. Voting could be done on-line with some combination of NI number, DOB and address acting as secure IDs with a password and security questions.

If methods like this are secure enough for on-line banking, then they should be equally suitable for voting.

The great majority of people are now computer literate and capable of managing registration and voting in this way, and for the decreasing minority who are not, they could vote by post. This would mean the end of old fashioned polling stations and almost certainly a large increase in voter registration – a much cheaper and more democratic system all-round.

You can email your views to electoral@wirral.gov.uk to participate in the consultation . One suspects that the bureaucrats just want to claim that the public have been fully consulted and then go ahead with what they want to do anyway – which in this case is to keep traditional polling stations.

Don’t let them continue to waste your money on an antiquated voting system. Bombard them with emails demanding a modern, efficient, on-line system.

Robert Peters

Address supplied

We are sailing

WALLASEY Yacht Club is enjoying its 108th year sailing Seabird Half Raters on the River Mersey.

Due to the clean waters and beaches at New Brighton, they sail in one of the best venues in the North West.

Members of any age are welcome. Monday evenings and Sunday mornings are an ideal time to try your hand under helpful guidance.

We are very pleased that the regeneration of New Brighton is near completion as this can only be an asset to the area. If you would like to find out more then phone the Hon Secretary on 0151-201 1394.

Name and address supplied