PLANS for a dog festival on Dartmouth’s Coronation Park have ruffled the fur of some councillors, leaving them hot under the collar.

Worries over car parking problems and the suitability of the public open space being used were among concerns raised after organiser Heather Nesbitt said the event could bring in around 2,000 people.

How many dogs this would equate to and the resulting dog poo on the park made some councillors almost barking mad at Monday’s town council meeting.

But Ms Nesbitt, director of Woofstock UK Ltd, Blackawton, said the festival would be run responsibly and they knew the clean up operation required.

‘We’re not going into it gung-ho,’ she said.

She hopes to stage the show – Woofstock UK – in August next year.

Ms Nesbitt said the one-day fun family festival of dogs would attract hundreds of visitors to Dartmouth and bring trade to the town’s businesses, pubs and restaurants.

As well as being a fabulous fun event, its aim was to raise awareness of animal charities, including those that helped humans such as search and rescue dogs and guide dogs, and would be in support of local groups, she said.

For the last two years the event has been staged in a nine-and a-half acre field in Marnhull, near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, but it was now hoped to ‘bring the event home’, she said.

She said Woofstock was supported by volunteers who came from all over the country to be involved in its running.

She added talks were being held with the police about the possibility of them doing a display at the festival.

‘There are lots of people in Dartmouth and the surrounding area who own dogs and holiday makers who bring pets away with them,’ she said.

‘Pubs and bed and breakfasts in Marnhull have been filled to capacity. We believe it would bring benefits to the town and is a great opportunity to support the local economy. There is no other dog show or festival like this in the south west.’

Ms Nesbitt said the festival was also an opportunity to educate any irresponsible dog owners to pick up after their pets and it would be run responsibly.

‘We absolutely know the clean up operation that is required,’ she said. ‘The stakes for us are huge.’

She said Woofstock had 12,000 followers on Twitter and her own dog, Harry, a spaniel, had his own account.

But Cllr Tony Fyson said he would be reluctant to see Coronation Park used for a dog show, especially at peak holiday time.

‘We have just the one small field and don’t have the space for this kind of thing,’ he said.

‘We have defended it against all sorts and I don’t think we should be encouraging dogs on the park when it is major facility for families with children.’

Cllr Fyson said urban parks all over the country were struggling to battle with problems of dog poo. I would have thought a farmer’s field further up the hill would have been more sensible. In my mind, it doesn’t fit into Dartmouth.’

Cllr Gina Coles said the town’s park and ride would not be able to cope with such large numbers and Cllr Robin Springett said he had worries about the use of the public open space.

The council’s general purposes committee will discuss the proposal further, though the final decision lies with landowner South Hams Council.

And district councillor Rosemary Rowe said she was in favour of the festival.

After the meeting, ‘Harry Spaniel Nesbitt’ posted on Facebook: ‘Boss is furious and swearing and furious and swearing and not happy at all looks like gonna hit De press.’

The post attracted messages of sympathy and offers of help from supporters.

‘Harry Spaniel Nesbitt’ later posted: ‘Off to bed pals been vewy stwessful evening. Wen did twying to do gud in De wurld become such a topic of disgust and utter objection fur ofurs. Me will nefur understand. Nite pals xxxx’.

The following day, ‘Harry Spaniel Nesbitt’ posted: ‘De fight goes on. We was met by some objections mainly parking which is ridiculous and also dat dey no want dogs on De park baaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahaha boss say she passed 20 dogs being walked der on way to meeting n de man said well dats 20 dogs too many.’