GUIDE dog owners feel they have got a ruff deal now part of Himley Park is off limits to their four-legged friends.

New rules banning dogs from the grassed area between the main gate and west gate came into force on Monday (February 1) as part of Dudley Council’s plans to attract more picnickers to the park.

Although it is part of a six-month trial, the decision has upset many dog owners who use the park on a daily basis as the pet-free zone was a popular exercise spot for their pooches.

The area is also where blind and visually impaired dog owners gather to ‘free run’ their guide dogs, according to Andrea Jones, engagement officer for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, who said the dogs could be let off the lead as they had been trained to respect the boundaries of the area.

Lisa Wharton from Dudley regularly exercises her guide dog Orla at the park and favours the spot as the ground is a lot less rutted and not as muddy as the rest.

She said continued: “I can also use the pathway as a guide so can free run Orla alone there without walking towards the lake – she knows that bit of ground and is trained to come back to a whistle.

“If I can’t use that stretch, I’d have to have a guide with me – I usually do anyway but it’s nice to have the independence.”

Blind Dudley resident Karl Denning added that he felt safe allowing his Quasia to roam due to the familiarity with the site, adding: “It is the only place I go where I can let her and my other dog Lexi off the lead.

“I’m fully aware that some people are timid around dogs and others don’t like them but I think this is a knee-jerk reaction.”

The 45-year-old said he was open to a solution that was fair for everybody but said he didn’t think the council had thought the decision through, adding: “They have caravans there once or twice a year and those people bring dogs with them, how are they going to implement it then?”

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member responsible for tourism, said: “We have started a six month trial scheme to encourage more families into the park, and have created a relatively small area of the popular grounds for family games and activities.

“We have carefully chosen this area with families in mind, to keep a safe distance between children and the water and geese fouling in that area.”

He continued: “Contrary to reports, this is not about banning dogs from Himley, we are trying to make the park accessible for everyone.

“However, in the meantime we will be running a consultation in the park to speak to visitors about the new measures to see if there are any improvements can be made as the pilot scheme goes on.”