I SEE that David Atherton’s letter on banning dogs from our beaches because of the fear of any mess is getting some response.

I agree owners who are not responsible enough to clear up after their pets should be punished by some kind of on the spot penalty but banning the dogs altogether is totally unacceptable.

Many visitors come here and bring their pets with them because they are allowed on the beaches, so banning them completely is ridiculous.

I’ve never seen a dog leave a sandwich wrapper or a plastic bag on the beach; they don’t drink out of plastic bottles or leave broken glass and they don’t cook barbecues either.

Perhaps Mr Atherton would be better advised to aim his campaign about mess on our beaches at the people who are responsible for the mess.

G M FOULDS, Upton (address supplied)