The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
So Holbeach Parish Council is to increase its share of council tax by twice the rate of inflation, at five per cent, followed by the usual cry of lack of resources.
Perhaps the chairman of the council could explain to the people of the district why, in view of the hardship cries, the 18 councillors voted to spend over £3,000 of taxpayers’ money creating anti-social behaviour in the form of a new dog exercise pen.
The entrance of the pen being on a busy road with hundreds of children walking to the academy, when dogs have been known to escape the confines and run loose, is not a sensible or cost effective idea.
No change of use planning application was submitted to SHDC despite the fact that you cannot enter the pen area from the park due to the gate at the park end being permanently locked.
The cost of the gate and fence being wasted monies.
Any dog pen facilities, if needed, should be totally within the park area and not as a separate section.
The previous dog pen facility which has now been converted, at more cost, into a white elephant in the form of a picnic area, was better placed and totally secure.
There was no reason to move the pen other than, perhaps, the keepers who live within the park, and near to the old pen, became fed up of hearing dogs bark from dawn till dusk, seven days a week.
Now the residents of the housing estate opposite the new pen have to endure anti-social dog barking all day, every day.
Placing a dog pen alongside a football club and ground, an academy playing field with an entrance and exit on a busy road is totally irresponsible.
Having had loose dogs escape via the new fencing it has required more expense in the form of wire mesh along the roadside which appears to be another half brained idea and completely makeshift.
I hope the people of Holbeach take this unnecessary and wasteful spending into account when the parish council elections take place in May.
G Smith
Mondemont Close
Spalding
