Chiswick House Relax Restrictions on Dog Walkers |
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Dogs allowed off lead when gardens are less busy Angus, a previous winner of the Chiswick House Dog Show
Chiswick House and Gardens Trust have relented on new guidelines which required dog walkers to keep their dogs on a lead at all times. Following recommendations from Hounslow Council and the Mayor’s office, notices were posted in the park which informed visitors of new restrictions earlier this week. There was an angry reaction from some regular users of the gardens who walk their dogs there and who claimed that the new guidelines were unnecessarily restrictive. Many dogs need to be let off the lead to be fully exercised if limited to one walk a day and it was argued that the extra risk presented by dogs to humans is negligible. It was also pointed out by some that an increased number of cyclists and joggers in the park are posing the main risk to social distancing. The Trust now say, “We have not changed our dog control areas where dogs are prohibited or must be on leads but when the estate is busier, we respectfully ask dog walkers to walk dogs on leads to allow the maximum room for others to exercise. As usual please pick up after dogs “Please always respect our staff and keep a safe distance from them. Some work areas may be taped off to allow staff to work whist keeping a safe distance from others – please stay out of these areas. The Trust says it does not have the staff currently to enforce social distancing but ask anyone seeing what they believe to be a breach of new laws in the gardens to report it to the police by telephoning the 101 service. A spokesperson for Chiswick House & Gardens Trust said, “It is desperate times for Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, we have had to put most of the team on the furlough scheme so are down to skeleton staff and financially we have lost all of our commercial income – our primary source of income”. Chiswick House and the cafe will remain closed until further notice as well as the playground and the toilet facilities.
April 26, 2020 |