I am writing in connection with dog poo bag scheme which is being proposed by Bradford Metropolitan Council (or the attempt to turn Ilkley moor into a park!) I have been a regular visitor to Ilkley moor for almost 60 years, bah’t dogs but mostly with dogs. The moor is a place for visitors who like a stroll up to White Wells but more usually it’s a place for a serious walk, hike or run or cycle ride.

You are quite likely to go up there bah’t ’at without catching your death but you should always go on’t moor bah’t stiletto heels, patent leather shoes and other forms of unsuitable footwear because – there’s a bit of poo about by way of sheep poo, rabbit poo, horse poo and sometimes dog poo.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Lake District National Park don’t waste tax payers money on littering the area with unsightly signs. Providing walkers obey the country code they let them get on with it.

As pointed out previously by your correspondents, poo disappears naturally in a week or two but plastic bags will foul land-fill sites for several hundred years (or they will be left dangling on bushes for someone else to clear up).

Turning Ilkley moor into a type of urban park with the usual restrictions will have a detrimental effect on visitor numbers, especially the serious walkers with dogs who also spend a lot of money in the town.

Otherwise the answer to, “Where hast tha been since I saw you?” might well be the Yorkshire Dales National Park!

James Edward

Pit Lane, Queensbury, Bradford