Pet protest stops traffic

The dogs came in all shapes and all sizes, all breeds and all temperaments.

The owners came with single-minded determination to oppose suggested legislation they feel will destroy their pets' freedom.

Together, they stopped the traffic and they turned heads.

But this was a peaceful protest - all bark and no bite.

Co-organisers Linda Aldous and Alison Hoyle were first delighted then astounded as owners and their pets converged on the De La Warr Pavilion, starting point for a protest march to the Town Hall.

Soon, the gathering filled half the pavilion terrace. Linda and Alison were kept busy handling out placards with messages such as "We want somewhere safe to walk."

The major bone of contention in this canine controversy is the proposal to limit the places where dogs may be let off the lead to a few designated areas.

Another is the specified length of lead.

Owner Sally Compton told the Observer: "My son is 6ft 5ins. My dog is small. A one-metre lead wouldn't reach the ground...."

Linda Aldous said: "I can understand people who don't want dogs running everywhere. What we would like is the bit of beach behind South Cliff designated for dogs.

"We are absolutely delighted with the turn-out today - overwhelmed. It is far greater than we dared hope."

Owner Phil Hall, accompanied by Gem and Harry, the Jack Russells which are his constant companions in his Sidley shop, summed-up the turn-out succinctly.

"Bloody brilliant!"

After a hectic photo-call it was "walkies" time.

Police Community Support Officers who had turned out for the event, helped the long column of marchers to cross Marina. A traffic jam soon backed-up from both sides of the pedestrian crossing,

The pet protest made its way up Devonshire Road, down Western Road and under Sackville Arch to Buckhurst Place - halting traffic at every crossing point.

Protester Nick Rosenberg is getting 200 unique visitors a day to the www.rotherdogs,com website he has built.

From the plinth of the Lane Memorial in Town Hall Square Gardens he told fellow protesters: "This is terrific!

"We thank all of you for showing up. To tell you the truth, I was worried that there would be about three but this is a terrific turn-out."

There was applause from the crowd when he announced the result of the count he had conducted - 332 owners and 216 dogs.

He stressed that it was vital that every dog-owner who felt strongly about the proposed Orders should fill in Rother's consultation questionnaire and visit the www.rotherdogs.com website.

Rother cabinet had asked for the public to give councillors their views on the draft Orders.

They got their wish - at least from one body of opinion on an issue which has split public reaction down the middle.

Sole representative of Rother cabinet in Town Hall Square Gardens was Cllr Joy Hughes.

She cut a lonely figure amid a barking crowd of dogs and angry owners thronging the gardens.

She will now present the owners' petition to her cabinet colleagues.