Dogs blamed for 'rotting' lampposts in upmarket Henley-on-Thames

Dogs have been blamed for causing structural damage to the bases of lampposts in the upmarket Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames, because their urine is thought to be causing them to rust.

According to The Telegraph, in a report to the town council, county councillor David Nimmo said: "A lamppost on the riverside, to which hanging baskets were attached, developed a list, brought about by rusting at the base.

"The county officers have suggested that rusting is because this was a favoured stopping-off point for dogs, although I have no evidence to substantiate this."

The same council has already banned hanging baskets due to fears that the cast-iron posts they hang from are rotting and could collapse on passersby.

The baskets, which were put up as part of Henley's Britain in Bloom bid, were removed from six lampposts last month, after rust was found during a safety check. They can't be put back until the lampposts have been replaced, which won't be in time for the visit by Britain in Bloom judges later this month.

The Henley Standard reports that road salt and floodwater could also have contributed to the problem.

Town Councillor Kellie Hinton told the Henley Standard: "I am sure the dogs do their business along there - it's a very popular area for walking dogs - but we can't just blame them."

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