I HAVE just found a website that I didn’t know was there, by our local council, designating our beach in West Kirby as dog-friendly.

I don't remember the consultation on this.

This beach has always been cleaned in the evenings, over the summer months, and is used by the bucket and spade parade and families as it has the best sand.

It has always been a beach for little children.

The end of the beach near the sand dunes smells, because it has been taken over by dog walkers and is littered with poo bags.

There has always been one section of the beach with good sand, free for families. Until now.

As the beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest it seems ridiculous to encourage dogs to roam free where there are birds gathering to set off on migration or landing to feed.

Many councils, including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Brighton, Derbyshire, Tyneside and many others, have courage to say that some areas, including beaches, should be dog-free.

Gradually, dog owners have taken over public places in Wirral.

Our town, West Kirby, has a lot of parks, footpaths and National Trust land where dogs roam free.

There are miniscule notices in one or two places, asking owners to pick up mess, but the town's open public spaces, including the promenade, are used freely by dog owners as places to foul.

Jan Bowen, West Kirby.