An 81-year-old grandmother says she was “reduced to tears” after being surrounded by three council wardens in a park and threatened with a £100 fine.
Wendy, who did not wish to give her surname, had been walking her Labrador, Harley, at the Lower Leas Coastal Park in Folkestone last Saturday when she was approached by enforcement officers.
She says one warden came up to speak to her before two others joined him, leaving her feeling “surrounded” and “intimidated”.
They accused her of breaching new dog control rules and demanded her personal details, claiming she had been seen days earlier with Harley off the lead in a restricted area.
The incident follows the introduction of an updated Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which came into effect on August 1 and expanded the areas of the park where dogs must now be kept on leads.
The changes were brought in following complaints about fouling and out-of-control pets near children’s play areas.
Wendy says she was walking Harley on a lead by the Toll House – an area where the ban applies – when she was confronted last Saturday.
She says the wardens claimed she had been spotted in the same area the previous Tuesday with Harley off the lead, but she could not recall the incident.
“I was shocked,” she said. “It reduced me to tears.
“The rules are confusing because the areas have changed, but I always try to follow them. I couldn’t remember what had happened on Tuesday. I don’t know how they knew where I lived.”
Wendy, who has lived in Folkestone for almost three decades and walks in the park regularly, says she was intimidated by the approach.
“Three of them circling me – it was frightening,” she added.
“I’ve always walked in the park. I had a dog before, then a 10-year gap, and then I had Harley.
“He’s incredibly well behaved. In all my years here, I’ve never really had problems.”
Other dog walkers, concerned by what they saw as a heavy-handed response, intervened and escorted Wendy home after she became visibly distressed.
She claims one warden later admitted the situation could have been handled differently, but says the experience has left her feeling uneasy about returning to the park.
“The whole atmosphere has shifted,” she said.
“I used to look forward to walking there, but now it doesn’t feel the same.
“A £100 fine might not sound like much to some, but for me it’s a lot of money. It’s made people uncomfortable – some don’t come down here anymore.”
“It’s made people uncomfortable – some don’t come down here anymore.”
She believes responsible owners should be trusted to exercise discretion, saying that in 30 years she has rarely seen problems with dogs off their leads.
Instead, she feels the increased presence of wardens has created an uneasy atmosphere.
“The park always had a relaxed, country feel, even though it’s by the sea,” she said.
“Now it feels spoiled.”
Some dog owners argue that a consultation on the stricter PSPO was poorly publicised and that signage around the park has been inadequate.
A formal complaint lodged by a friend of Wendy’s described the encounter as “a disgraceful incident” and accused the wardens of targeting a vulnerable resident.
“Would these wardens have confronted a 50-year-old man in this manner? I very much doubt it, but an 81-year-old frail woman is an easy target,” she wrote to Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC).
“Dog walkers are the least of the problems in the park – which every weekend is litter-strewn with food debris, broken bottles and tents.
“These wardens should be disciplined and retrained in dealing with the public.”
Another Folkestone resident, Sarah Redhed, has now started a petition calling for the ban to be lifted, with hundreds already supporting it.
Folkestone and Hythe District Council says it is carrying out an investigation into the complaint and will issue a response to Wendy “in due course”.
A spokesperson added: “Anyone visiting the Lower Leas Coastal Park needs to follow the rules of the Public Spaces Protection Order to ensure all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
“We carried out a six-week consultation to obtain views on the proposed changes, as well as understand how the Lower Leas Coastal Park can be better looked after, appreciated and protected.
“New measures have been introduced following numerous reports of owners allowing their dogs to foul and not clearing up afterwards, digging up plants and instances of staff being verbally abused.
“The park is there for everyone to enjoy – we are open to easing restrictions in the future if improvements are seen.”
