Mad Dogs in Witton Lakes Park

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Permalink Reply by Andy White on December 2, 2011 at 19:54

Earlier this year I remonstrated with what I thought was a young mum with pushcair and 4 other ch  (all under about 7).  They had been eating a takeaway and as I approached they just threw the remainer + wrapping onto the grass.  When I confronted the 'young mum' I realised she was probably an older sister (12/13?).  I challenged her about her behaviour and what she was doing to her own environment and she retorted ' well its Kingstanding so what do you expect - it's an effing sh*thole'.

That told me.  There's no hope.  I actually avoid this section of NCN as I feel much safer and puncture free if I use the road.  Shame eh!

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 2, 2011 at 20:01

Seems like a typical case of investment in a route and then little maintenance.After all we are only passing through an area which has much bigger problems than mad dogs and rubbish. It does nothing to encourage people to cycle to work and is another example of the Council and Police not taking cycling seriously.I often go down the A453 now to avoid the park.

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Permalink Reply by Andy White on December 2, 2011 at 20:03

While I'm at it I'll add my twopenn'orth about dogs too. 

I am seriously concerned abiut the number of large staffie-cross dogs on our streets at the moment. These, and other aggressive large/breeds such as south-african ridgebacks, rottweilers etc seem to have increased astronomically in number over the last couple of years. 

I do a lot of running on Sandwell Valley over the last year I have become increasingly reluctant to go there during certain hours of the day having had 4 potentially very nasty encounters in as many months.  The most recent being jumped on by a pitbull and a rottweiler together - luckily just playfully but it could have turned very bad if I had been pushed to the ground.  Both dogs were off the lead and unresponsive to the owners commands.

Soon enough someone is going to be badly savaged in a public place.  Personally I believe that all dogs over a certain weight (specifying breed is pointless) should always be leashed and muzzled in public.

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 2, 2011 at 20:09

Agree completely about the increase in these dogs which are often used for fighting and attacking others. Their behaviour is completely unregulated.Police do nothing as they are in their cars most of the time.I was confronted by five youths in Witton Lakes Park over the Summer.Each one was competing to have the nastiest dog.They refused to let me pass, so I turned around and went another way.Sorry to hear of your incident in Sandwell.

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Permalink Reply by Simon on December 3, 2011 at 10:54

I've been riding through Witton Lakes twice a day, six times a week since Easter and haven't had the problem to the extent that you are suffering it John. I posted some time ago about one individual and his dog that really didn't like cyclists and used to chase them.  But i don't think that the owner was intentionally making his dog do this as he soon got the message and made sure he grabbed his dog as soon as he saw me in the distance.  (possibly because I encouraged the dog to follow me one day and the lad had to run half the length of the park to get his dog back - have you seen the 'Fenton' video, it was like the Witton version of that).

As for police - I do see bike riding police in there quite regularly - maybe once a week in the summer, and since they started to appear the number of kids on motorbikes has reduced somewhat.

In fact, thinking back the only problems that I've so far encountered there are:

-the above dog

-being barked at by a yoof sat near one of the gates

-being sworn at by a girl who'd just jumped into the middle of the path in front of me

-a friend falling through the hole where the missing rail is on the bridge

-being cut up by idiots on bikes trying to play at racing

-being swerved into by an idiot on a bike coming the other way despite there being nothing in front of him on his side of the path

-nearly being knocked off by a vulcan bomber

-avoiding some old perv who was stood in the middle of the path urinating

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 3, 2011 at 11:07

All part of the fun of riding through Witton Lakes. Intrigued by all the incidents, especially the Vulcan bomber! The local residents do have the right to use their local park in the way that makes sense to them.The more I think about it the more I realise that we are the invaders .Perhaps this is why riding through parks is never going to be that great.Like the roads there is a clash of users,who all think they have rights over others . I get the dog problem in Sutton Park, different dogs ...Labradors and fluffy dogs instead of pit bulls...but it is the same issue,dogs not on leads and bikes travelling too fast near pedestrians.

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Permalink Reply by Simon on December 3, 2011 at 11:28

Well, I was just riding along when I saw a vulcan bomber in the sky. Blimey I thought, aren't they all grounded now.  Then I suddenly realised that it was both much smaller and much closer than it appeared at first sight.  Yep, it was a large radio controlled model and the operator (with his back to me) was using the path as a landing strip, forcing me to swerve out of its way.  He was very apologetic when he realised what had happened.

Yep, I find the dogs worse in Sutton Park,mainly because there are so many.  But 99 times out of 100, if you are prepared to ride real slow and cover your brakes I think we can all get on OK.  Nonetheless, it would be nice if....people would teach their dogs some obedience so that they could make them stay still on the spot, didn't call their dogs from the other side of the path right across the front of you, and didn't use invisible extendible leads across the path!  But there again, it would be nice if a similar minority of cyclists had respect for others too.

Been riding the other side of the N.Brum loop recently, Good Hope down to the canal by Castle Vale.  Whole different atmosphere to the Witton bit.  All feels much more countrified and middle class, and the people I've met have a smaller element of lary yoof* amongst them.  But on the down side, it doesn't help me get to work and even if it did I wouldn't use it half the time because of the lack of tarmac means I get to dirty.

Anyway, coming home at 11pm last night through Witton Park was an interesting experience.  Totally deserted apart from strange noises in the woods.  Quite eerie, especially as I'd accidental left the battery pack on my bike outside work and it had discharged in the rain, so was saving the main lights for the road.

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 3, 2011 at 11:38

Thought the Vulcan was that one from Baggington on a bombing run, and look forward to seeing the model. I ride from Boldmere to Perry Barr so the WLPark route is the logical one. Sometimes travel to and from City Centre too.Haven't tried the other route you describe.Some people say go down the canals but the paths are slippery and he lighting poor. Overall,commuting by bike is much better than by car.Not much chance of improvements in cycling infrastructure now we are in a recession,unless we get a serious change of leadership in he City.Increasingly I feel privileged to be travelling by bike, but that local government is doing very little to encourage others.

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Permalink Reply by Simon on December 3, 2011 at 15:29

Actually, we might be benefiting from quite a bit of improvement soon with the Bike North Birmingham initiative and the money that comes with it....there is meant to be a new cycle track going past my house and down onto the Witton Lakes bit, although, to be honest I'm not sure that it is needed in that direction as the roads are fairly calm.  But the bit that goes in the other direction will be a bonus - getting people across Chestrer Rd and the railway.

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 3, 2011 at 15:51

Sounds good ...what is your postcode?I use the Turfpits Lane route to get to Witton Lakes to avoid the sand and broken glass on the official route.

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Permalink Reply by Rob not Bob on December 4, 2011 at 15:22

As the antisocial behaviour officer for this area and a cyclist/runner who uses WL park I would make the following points

Chavs is an offensive label used by the MC to make WC youth appear deviant

There is no evidence that WC yoof (sic) are any worse behaved than MC youth

I have more problems cycling along the rea valley than WL,( herds of ladies who like to lunch who know their rights so no they will not move their designer dog)

WL is patrolled by PCSOs on bikes up until 23 00

The friends  of WL community group clean it on a regular basis

Parks are meant to be used by the community including young people

Cameron has just cut the funding of two local youth groups so the young people of KS and W Birch dont have a lot else to do.

Crime rates and ASB in the area are well below average

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Permalink Reply by John KIRK on December 4, 2011 at 15:25

Fair comment.

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