Barbs have been traded between the city’s two biggest parties on the local authority over a plan 180 miles away
Dog walkers at the frozen lake in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
A war of words has broken out after Liverpool Labour accused the city’s largest opposition group of wanting to introduce a “dog walking tax.” The ruling group on the city council has launched a survey claiming the Liberal Democrats will introduce a tax on dog walkers should they take control of the Town Hall in 2027.
In Bristol, where the council is in no overall political control, professional dog walkers must pay for a business licence to walk dogs in public green spaces. In a post on social media last month, Liverpool’s Liberal Democrat group said it was “not unreasonable” for those using green spaces to make profit to contribute to their upkeep.
Cllr Carl Cashman told the ECHO his group had no plans to introduce a levy on city dog walkers. He branded the Labour attack as “seriously desperate” as a ruling group source said “our parks belong to everyone” across Liverpool.
The controversial plans in Bristol were introduced amid a huge public backlash. It was confirmed earlier this week how dog walkers would not pay the initial tariff of £450 after concerns were raised about affordability.
A dog walker in Sefton Park after the early morning frost(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
This did not stop Liverpool Labour launching a survey against their political opponents here. It said: “The Liverpool Labour party is calling on the Liverpool Liberal Democrats to scrap their plans to introduce a tax on dog walkers, which they have said they would introduce if they take control of Liverpool City Council in 2027.
“The proposed dog walker tax, already being introduced in Lib Dem & Green run Bristol, would mean local dog walkers, many on low-income, will be made to pay up to £500 a year to use our local parks to walk the dogs they care for. Cllr Cashman hit out at Labour’s attack after his party said those running a fitness class at a council leisure centre would be expected to pay.
He said: “The tweet talks about businesses using a park for a commercial profit not dog walkers. Labour are seriously desperate here.
Dog owners have been warned there are a list of rules they must adhere to(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
“Do they seriously think Sefton Park should be given for free to businesses to make profit and not kept for use for ordinary members of the public? I wouldn’t be surprised as they tried to sell off Calderstones Park and Woolton Woods in the past.
“Parks are for people, not for profit. That’s why we want to see community money put into renovating them, placing them in trust so they can’t be developed on, and keeping them going for future generations.”
A Labour source said: “It’s really disappointing to see the Liverpool Liberal Democrats endorse a tax on local dog walkers. We believe that our parks belong to everyone in this city.
“We stand firmly against Lib Dem plans to charge local dog walkers up to £500 a year. A dog tax is wrong, plain and simple. Liverpool Labour has no plans to tax our dog walkers.”