I AM dumbfounded at Burnley Council’s decision to even contemplate reviewing the dog ban in Thompson and Queen’s Park (LT, May 5).

Once again we appear to be re-inventing the wheel for the benefit of a minority, ie dog walkers, or more correctly dog exercisers who can’t be bothered to walk their animals but just want to stand there watching their animals doing crazy circuits of beautiful parkland. I have lost count of the times when playing ball with my small grandchildren I have had to pick them up in Towneley near the playing fields because some crazed and newly-released mutt has bounded up (on one occasion it bit and burst the ball).

When, on one occasion a lab type dog bounded over and jumped up with its muddy paws on my beige trousers, the owner said (as they always do), “He won’t hurt you, he’s only playing/trying to be friendly/doesn’t bite”. These platitudes are usually extended with a smile of “He does what he wants – he doesn’t take any notice of me when he’s excited – isn’t he a rascal!”

When I remonstrated with this owner, the amazing response was “Well I never – you shouldn’t come up here if you don’t like dogs!”

The irony is that I do like dogs and have been brought up with them since childhood. What I don’t like is selfish owners who think that because they love their dog, everyone else should feel the same.

The leash system won’t work because no one will police it. Owners will treat Queen’s and Thompson parks the way they treat Towneley and Browhead. Let the lazy dog watchers keep to Browhead and Towneley and then we park lovers can play with our children and grandkids free of excrement, disease, assault and intimidation.

Stuart Rosbottom, Broad Ing Close, Cliviger.