Freshwater resident, name and address supplied:

Yet again, I walk along the Freshwater Causeway and see a dog owner letting the dog off the lead, only for it to go bounding into the water, where there are large numbers of swans, geese and ducks, many of them young birds. 

It's most likely that the dog isn't after them at all but the birds don't know that. 

All they see is a large animal propelling itself in their direction. 

Do we have to see more deaths in the river before the council puts a board up to the effect that dogs MUST be kept on leads in this sensitive area, which everyone agrees we are very lucky to have.

The actual stretch of land concerned is a couple of hundred yards or so, so hardly a major hardship.