Latest news with #TilgatePark
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MPs back move to protect llamas and alpacas from dog attacks
Llamas and alpacas should receive legal protections from dog attacks, MPs have agreed. Dog owners already face a fine if their pet attacks or worries farm animals listed in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, such as cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. But after a Commons debate, MPs have agreed to add 'camelids' to this list, giving llamas and alpacas in England and Wales similar protections as they have in Scotland. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, which now faces further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date, will also see unlimited fines rolled out in dog attack cases, lifting a £1,000 cap. 'They're no laughing matter, alpacas and llamas,' Labour MP Peter Lamb said. 'The Inca empire never developed the wheel. 'The entirety of that empire was built off the back of alpacas and llamas and, as a result, they are an animal that's worthy of great respect.' Mr Lamb said he had heard of 'pretty harrowing cases of what happened to that livestock' at a centre in Tilgate Park in Crawley, West Sussex, where he was the borough council leader. 'In one case, a sheep was just literally set on fire whilst still alive and while the Bill does not directly deal with that, I think some of the mentality that goes into disrespecting these animals is worthy of note,' he said. 'But what we have done is very often, far more often than that, had dogs set on these animals, or at least, people have not been in control of these. 'And we've eventually had to remove the sheep entirely from the publicly accessible areas on the basis of that.' Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury Aphra Brandreth, who proposed the private member's Bill, told the Commons: 'Livestock worrying, as we know, has devastating consequences for both animals and farmers.' She added: 'The damage of a livestock attack can be horrific, causing brutal injuries which are tragically often fatal. 'There are instances of stress causing pregnant livestock to miscarry, and separation of mothers and young leading to hypothermia or starvation. 'I've seen pictures from farmers in my constituency where attacks have mutilated their calves beyond any hope of keeping them alive. 'The consequences, no matter what the scale of an attack, are profound.' As part of the draft new law, authorities would get the powers to treat attacking livestock as separate to 'worrying', which includes chasing farm animals in a way which could cause injury, suffering or loss or 'diminution in their produce'. The Bill would also expand the 1953 Act's scope, which applies on agricultural land, to roads and paths, where animals might be herded. Labour MP Mike Reader praised Ms Brandreth for her 'responsible and balanced approach'. The Northampton South MP said it was 'positive that this expands that definition to roads and paths, because it sets clear requirements that when someone is accessing land, particularly throughout Northamptonshire where there're so many paths that run through farmland, there's a clear definition in the law to both protect farmers but also to set clear boundaries for those who are perhaps walking their dogs… when they access farmland'. Environment minister Emma Hardy said the Government was 'fully committed to supporting this important Bill as it progresses through the other place', before the Bill cleared the Commons at third reading.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MPs back move to protect llamas and alpacas from dog attacks
Llamas and alpacas should receive legal protections from dog attacks, MPs have agreed. Dog owners already face a fine if their pet attacks or worries farm animals listed in the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, such as cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. But after a Commons debate, MPs have agreed to add 'camelids' to this list, giving llamas and alpacas in England and Wales similar protections as they have in Scotland. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, which now faces further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date, will also see unlimited fines rolled out in dog attack cases, lifting a £1,000 cap. 'They're no laughing matter, alpacas and llamas,' Labour MP Peter Lamb said. 'The Inca empire never developed the wheel. 'The entirety of that empire was built off the back of alpacas and llamas and, as a result, they are an animal that's worthy of great respect.' Mr Lamb said he had heard of 'pretty harrowing cases of what happened to that livestock' at a centre in Tilgate Park in Crawley, West Sussex, where he was the borough council leader. 'In one case, a sheep was just literally set on fire whilst still alive and while the Bill does not directly deal with that, I think some of the mentality that goes into disrespecting these animals is worthy of note,' he said. 'But what we have done is very often, far more often than that, had dogs set on these animals, or at least, people have not been in control of these. 'And we've eventually had to remove the sheep entirely from the publicly accessible areas on the basis of that.' Conservative MP for Chester South and Eddisbury Aphra Brandreth, who proposed the private member's Bill, told the Commons: 'Livestock worrying, as we know, has devastating consequences for both animals and farmers.' She added: 'The damage of a livestock attack can be horrific, causing brutal injuries which are tragically often fatal. 'There are instances of stress causing pregnant livestock to miscarry, and separation of mothers and young leading to hypothermia or starvation. 'I've seen pictures from farmers in my constituency where attacks have mutilated their calves beyond any hope of keeping them alive. 'The consequences, no matter what the scale of an attack, are profound.' As part of the draft new law, authorities would get the powers to treat attacking livestock as separate to 'worrying', which includes chasing farm animals in a way which could cause injury, suffering or loss or 'diminution in their produce'. The Bill would also expand the 1953 Act's scope, which applies on agricultural land, to roads and paths, where animals might be herded. Labour MP Mike Reader praised Ms Brandreth for her 'responsible and balanced approach'. The Northampton South MP said it was 'positive that this expands that definition to roads and paths, because it sets clear requirements that when someone is accessing land, particularly throughout Northamptonshire where there're so many paths that run through farmland, there's a clear definition in the law to both protect farmers but also to set clear boundaries for those who are perhaps walking their dogs… when they access farmland'. Environment minister Emma Hardy said the Government was 'fully committed to supporting this important Bill as it progresses through the other place', before the Bill cleared the Commons at third reading.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Walkers give views on dog lead rules at Crawley park
Residents have given their thoughts on plans to extend a ban preventing dogs from being let off the lead in certain areas of a West Sussex park.A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place in areas of Tilgate Park, Crawley, since 2022, and Crawley Borough Council wants to renew it for a further three council said since the order, there had been an immediate reduction in dog-on-dog attacks and no reported incidents of wildlife deaths, including cygnets, swans or PSPO means all dogs must be kept on a lead around Tilgate Lake, the park's main lawn, peace garden and the golf course (excluding the perimeter path) at all times. "I think it's important because of the nature and the young breeding swans and geese", said resident Jenny Mitchell."I once saw a couple of dogs go into the lake chasing a swan right down the lake, the owners had trouble getting them back out. It was quite frightening."Emma Eaton, who walks her dog in the park, said: "The dogs can still come off their leads in certain areas. But I think by the lake and park where you have wildlife and children running around, if you have a dog you can't control they should be on a lead."Bill Chase, another dog walker, said: "I think it's a good thing to protect the wildlife. You don't know what sort of dog is coming up to your dog too."Another person understood the importance of protecting wildlife in the park but said "dogs need a place to roam" council wants to renew the order before it expires later in the year and has encouraged people to share their thoughts in the consultation, which ends dogs are exempt from the order and dogs can remain off the lead throughout the rest of the dogs are permitted in the children's not obeying the order can be asked to stop, and council officers can issue fixed penalty notices with the option to prosecute in court if tickets are not paid.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Crawley Tilgate Park visitors asked for views on dog lead rules
Visitors to a Crawley park are being asked for their views on rules about dogs being on leads.A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place in areas of Tilgate Park since 2022, and Crawley Borough Council intends to renew it for a further three PSPO means all dogs must be kept on a lead around Tilgate lake, the park's main lawn, peace garden and the golf course (excluding the perimeter path) at all member for public protection, Yasmin Khan, said the council wanted to ensure the park was a safe place for residents and visitors to enjoy. Since the introduction of the PSPO, she added there had been an "immediate reduction in dog-on-dog attacks in the park and there have been no reported incidents of wildlife deaths, including cygnets, swans or deer".The council wants to renew the order before it expires later in the year, and Councillor Khan encouraged local residents and visitors to share their thoughts in the dogs are exempt from the order and dogs can remain off the lead throughout the rest of the dogs are permitted in the children's not obeying the order can be asked to stop, and council officers can issue fixed penalty notices with the option to prosecute in court if tickets are not consultation runs until 19 June.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tilgate man completes Parkrun in a wedding dress
A Sussex teacher has celebrated his nuptials by hitting his local Parkrun course in a wedding dress for his stag 32, first completed the Tilgate Park run on 10 May dressed all in white to celebrate his marriage to Amy, 30 on Saturday, 24 secondary school teacher then returned to the course on the morning of his wedding for another run in regular said: "My best mate Matt was also made to do the exact same thing in the same dress when he got married." "It was quite warm so I heated up but we were going at a good pace."A lot of people were doing double takes as we passed them."No stranger to fancy dress running, Tom said he had previously completed the Brighton marathon with friends while dressed as the Teletubbies, as well as the London marathon dressed as a to Radio Sussex ahead of his wedding run, Tom said the sky was "a bit gloomy but it's a great day to get out for a run".He took part in his 40th run at Tilgate Park before heading to Horsham registry office to get married at said following a meal and drinks with families and friends, he and Amy would be heading to North America for four weeks on holiday later in the sees runners taking part in weekly 5km running events across the country at 09:00 every Saturday morning.
