Queen’s Park Gardens dog run, you said, we did

The original consultation

Dog Control Orders were implemented in 2009 in areas across Westminster including Queens Park. The dog run in Queens Park Gardens (QPG) has always been a hub for local resident dog owners, but it has also been subject to debate on where park furniture should be sited, the general maintenance of the area, and ultimately dog control issues which have resulted in some dogs being attacked, some fatally, by other dogs.

Introducing new measures such as fencing, gating, and enrichment are not new suggestions, and in May 2022 discussions in neighbourhood ward meetings around complaints, revisited the idea of introducing measures to mitigate these risks. External funding was also discussed to enable these measures to be introduced which would give owners more choice, provide reassurance to owners of smaller or younger breeds, and give further enrichment, through a sensory garden, for local dog owners.

At this time, Veolia’s sustainability fund was recommended as a possible source that may support this community project. The application window was still active, and a submission was made to gauge this feasibility, based around fencing and planters. The application proved successful, and with funding secured, the council’s animal welfare team worked closely with our parks team and other key stakeholders to put into place opportunities for residents to give their opinion and meet council officers involved. These were:

• Producing an online survey that explained the proposal and benefits.
• Using local and social media communications to raise awareness of the consultation and increase publicity.
• Arranging a community event at St Jude’s Hall on 20 February 2023 with refreshments to meet and engage with local residents, ward councillors, and community council members.
• Arranging a pop-up event next to the dog run in QPG on Friday 10 March 2023.
• The consultation ran for 4 weeks closing on 13 March 2023.
• Developing a new poster with QR codes, linked to the above, for engagement events and to support consultation.

Document

Queen's Park dog run engagement poster PDF, 517.58 KB, 1 page

Within this time a petition was circulated and sent to the council opposing the expenditure of council funds. The survey was therefore extended to 17 April to clarify through communications that the funding was coming from an external source, Veolia. The consultation was extended once more to 24 April to help raise awareness of the survey link and how residents could complete a hard copy through the Queen’s Park Community Council (QPCC) newsletter.

We posted about the dog run consultation on our Nextdoor, which had 133 impressions and on Twitter, which saw 3000 views, 30 likes and 8 clicks.

Opinions on dog related themes in Westminster

We asked residents for their broader opinions on other dog related areas such as control and ownership based on their experience as dog owners/non dog owners, of both living and working in Westminster, and around the frequency they visited QPG.

You said

• 66% of respondents live in Westminster, with 24% of those both living and working here.
• 10% of those neither lived nor worked in Westminster, perhaps highlighting the shared open spaces between the nearby boundary of Brent.
• 73% were dog owners, and 62% of all respondents visited QPG each day or several times a week.

We did

The survey and supporting communications sought to capture resident’s views on the dog run area in a collaborative way. This was principally to gauge their support in introducing a dividing fence and a sensory garden in planters, and to provide reassurance and choice to all dog owners. The consultation period was extended twice to allow further awareness raising through communications, and to clarify where funding would be sourced, and to facilitate the survey in hardcopy to residents who could not use the survey link. This was supported through the QPCC newsletter.

Dividing fence in the dog run

You said

66% of residents said that they supported introducing a dividing fence in the dog run.

Those who didn’t predominantly sited space and commented upon the issues around anti-social behaviour (ASB) of irresponsible dog owners. A small number mentioned the fence being too low, with 1 person saying it was fine as it was.

We did

Council officers have worked closely with our parks team and contractors to find the appropriate fencing that will mitigate these risks. All owners need to be responsible whether inside the run or walking their dogs on the street. There could be some confusion around dogs off lead in the dog run (owners can be instructed to leash their dogs if they can’t control them) and the council will do more education in conveying this through events and communication.

Sensory garden and planters

You said

75% of residents said that they supported the introduction of a sensory garden with planters.
Those who didn’t sited finance needed in other areas such as drainage, pathway repair and returning. A percentage did not support siting the behaviour of irresponsible dog owners as the reason. Interestingly, a small number said they would if the planters were for the dogs and didn’t encroach upon space.

We did

The funding secured has been provided through Veolia’s sustainability fund. We have been very clear in all our communications where the funding has originated, as we essentially had to ensure the fund would support the proposal at an early stage.

Westminster’s Parks team annually return this area and council officers will continue to work parks colleagues and all key stakeholders to ensure all dog owners are responsible. It is envisaged that planters will be attached to the fencing (and will therefore not impact space) and will support enrichment for dogs. Animal welfare officers have worked with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to understand how sensory gardens and enrichment can benefit dogs and desensitise aggression and assist socialisation

Responsible dog ownership

You said

We asked if users of the dog run knew that bagged dog waste can be put into any litterbin?
87% of owners were aware they could use any litterbin to dispose bagged dog waste, but 13% did not.

We did

Council officers want to work closer with key stakeholders to better facilitate and make it easier to dispose of dog waste through the provision of free bags, signage, and education. We have installed six new bins in recent months and will link in with local interventions that identify irresponsible owners and tackle this with legislation that supports compliance.

Dog control

You said

On a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the biggest problem, to what extent is dog control a problem in QPG?
Resident opinion on the extent of dog problems varied. 51% of respondents saw dog control as less of a problem, between 1 and 5, and 49% saw dog control as a very big problem in QPG.

We did

Our animal welfare team have been speaking to the QPCC in regard to dog related issues such as fouling and control issues with dogs off lead. Westminster is currently developing a citywide dog strategy to raise awareness, facilitate and make it easier for dog owners to do the right thing, whilst ensuring education to tackle irresponsible behaviour is supported. The city strategy will look to link and reinforce localised interventions with key stakeholders.

Other comments from residents around responsible dog ownership

• "It is a mud pit in there and only a few takes care of it or pick up poo, I think by having the opportunity to divide it with an open shut gate it would give people more opportunity to use it."
• "Thank you for working to make the park a better place."
• "The dog run is disgusting - muddy, bare, and cramped. I never use it. It would be great to have a nicer space to let dogs off lead."
• "The dog run gets terribly muddy, there should be adequate drainage, the path gets covered with mud as there are no drains along the edge of the path. Having the dog run on a slope means all the balls thrown, end up in the hedge with the risk of a dog getting injured by the hawthorn hedge."
• "I have a small dog and many times ago telling him to the dog park when there is a larger dog due to the number of incidences there with dogs getting injured or killed. I have spoken to numerous other dog owners that feel the same way. I would be hugely in favour of separating out the park into small and big dog sections to prevent incidents like these happening again."
• "In the winter the dog park gets very muddy, and this is compounded by the slope which makes it very slippery. Furthermore, the upper part of the slope is barely used (by dogs or people) with everyone sticking to the path or bottom bit of grass. Ideally it should be a flat space to maximise the usage."
• "Main issue is young men with large, aggressive dogs. Should really be banned from the dog park The dog park layout also needs to be revised. The fact it is a slope and is grass means that when it rains it becomes very muddy and not very usable. Maybe there is an option for a non-grass/soil surface or better drainage to stop this."
• "We need more spaces locally to exercise dogs - not less. Part of the problem with the dog exercise area in Queen's Park is it is far too small."
• "Also due to opening hours of the park in winter hours are very much reduced."
• "I have had occasions when other people's dogs have showing aggression to my dog also so people not cleaning up after their dogs."
• "Small dogs and big dogs should be in completely different spaces. As a small dog owner, I don't feel safe personally or for my dog when big dogs are in."
• "Could we have a sandpit for dog fouling? Similar to wormwood scrubs."
• "There are too many large out of control dogs using the dog run."
• "Most owners are not aware they can put dog bags in any bin, and they just put it behind trees."
• "Muzzle unsocial dogs in public places."
• "More small dog bins attached to lampposts around the avenues and more drastic fine measures to deter owners from not cleaning up after their dog."
• "Sensory garden!? You're having a laugh. Trees and a few plants would be great, but nothing that will cost too much money!"