A PETITION against plans to introduce dog control orders for open spaces in North Somerset has been signed by more than 120 people.

Dog owners keen to object against the plans have signed the document, which was put out in branches of Watkins and Tasker veterinary surgeries in Nailsea, Portishead and Yatton, as well as at Aaron’s Pets in Nailsea.

It is campaigning against plans to introduce restrictions which will mean dogs should be kept on leads at Greenfield Crescent, Grove and Fryth Way playing fields, as well as the rugby pitches off Engine Lane, in Nailsea. This could also be introduced for Portishead’s Marina and Clevedon’s Coleridge Vale Playing Fields.

Dog exclusion orders have been proposed for Brampton Play Area in Portishead, Tickenham Village Field adjacent to the village hall and at The Ponds in Portishead’s Village Quarter.

Veterinary nurse at the Watkins and Tasker Nailsea surgery, Zoe Coomber, handed the document over to staff at North Somerset Council on Friday in the hope it will encourage them to rethink the proposals.

She said: “Most of our clients are fairly responsible. Generally we don’t see that much dog mess.

“It is just the occasional few people that don’t pick it up. We feel they won’t bother to pick it up even if their dog is on a lead.”

A consultation on the proposals ended on Saturday.