I AM somewhat perplexed by the views of your correspondent regarding dog walkers.

I have been a Knutsford resident and member of the National Trust for more than 40 years and have had the privilege of walking, running and enjoying Tatton Park on many hundreds of occasions. I can only say that your correspondent must have been unfortunate because I have found it easy to avoid the kind of difficulties they describe.

Dogs respond to eye contact and facial expressions so it is best to ignore them completely if you don’t want any contact. Dog Wood is a hot spot for dog walkers at certain times of the day so simply by avoiding this area at these times any difficulties can be avoided.

When walking in wet and muddy areas, even if dog free, I always wear suitable clothing.

I have never owned a dog but I love both nature and animals and enjoy seeing the wonderful wildlife that Tatton supports. I also enjoy seeing children, families, adults, and dogs enjoying themselves in the park.

I would not wish to condone irresponsible dog owners in any way but as one in four households own a dog it surely must be acknowledged that dog owners should have an equal right to walk with their dogs in Tatton Park as long as they do so responsibly.

I also note that Nick Marks wants to ban cyclists from cycling between Mobberley Road and the town centre. I’m sure cyclists would respond that they do not want to use the roads because of the fear of irresponsible drivers.

While I do appreciate the concerns raised by your correspondents, I believe that these and similar difficulties could be overcome, not by bans, but by all of us learning to treat each other with greater consideration and respect.

Lesley Mather Knutsford