Parks and footpaths across Coventry have been closed to the public to stop the risk of foot and mouth disease being spread in the city.

Council officials have decided to close the council-owned sites, paths in rural areas and cancel football matches.

Signs are being put up at affected places warning people to stay off the land.

And cordons of disinfectant have been introduced at the boundary of some areas in the countryside.

The following places have been closed:

• Coombe Country Park. Only the hotel remains open at the moment and special measures are in place to ensure that all vehicles entering and leaving the site do so through disinfectant baths.
• All public footpaths, bridlepaths and rights of way in rural parts of the city. This includes areas like Allesley and Keresley parishes which are surrounded by countryside and places like Sowe Common and Wyken Slough. Signs will be in place today telling people there is no access.
• Coundon Hall Park
• Eastern Green Recreation Ground
• Floyds Field
• Tile Hill Wood
• Ten Shilling Wood in Tile Hill
• Wainbody Woods North and South
• Willenhall Wood
• Binley Recreation Ground
• Wyken Slough
• Park Wood
• Lunt Fort near Baginton
• Brandon Wood Farm which provides around 80 adults with learning difficulties with day care.  They are now receiving their care at the Torrington Avenue Centre for the time being.

There are a number of public footpaths across school grounds which are used by pupils to get to and from school. Those within the grounds will remain open, but controls may be put in place at school boundaries.

There will also be no football matches played on parks sites until further notice. This includes the War Memorial park and other sites around the city.  

Cllr John McNicholas, cabinet member (Environmental Services), said:

"We now have part of our city classed as an infected area and we need the help and co-operation of all Coventry people to ensure this very infectious disease is contained.

“I would ask everyone to please keep out of the countryside. This is an extremely serious issue and we do not want people using any of the footpaths or sites we have closed as it is now a criminal offence to do so.

“Just as importantly, dog owners need to keep their dogs on a lead at all times when out walking them.

“With around 40 farms within our city boundary we want to take all precautions to help protect the livelihoods our farmers and the associated industries.

“Town and country need to work together to combat this crisis. The situation is likely to get worse before it gets better but we can all do our bit to help now."

SEE [02 MAR 01] DON'T LET THE DOGS OUT IN DISEASE AREA
SEE [01 MAR 01] COVENTRY IN FOOT AND MOUTH RISK AREA
SEE [01 MAR 01] PATHS CLOSED AS DISEASE CRISIS DEEPENS
SEE [01 MAR 01] EMERGENCY FOOT AND MOUTH CONTACT DETAILS