DOG walkers might have to apply for a licence to use Helensburgh's Duchess Wood in future.

A report to the management committee which runs the woodland says the move "might be necessary" after people raised concerns about dog walkers taking large numbers of animals into the wood.

The report, by the Friends of Duchess Wood (FODW), says they have been told of concerns about professional walkers having limited control over several dogs at a time.

Secretary Martin Grafton said in his report to the committee: “Visitors have raised issues with FODW over the past few months about professional dog walkers with five dogs or more using the wood on a regular basis and sometimes having only limited control over all the dogs.

“Mention has been made in the past about a form of licensing scheme, but FODW is unsure of the current position.

“Experience is mounting that such a move might be necessary.”

The report also highlighted concerns among residents at Strathclyde Court about trees growing into their premises, and dead trees near the boundary.

The development, at the end of Millig Street, also recently had a goat willow tree fall towards the boundary of one of its houses.

The report added: “When reported to Argyll and Bute Council there seemed to be confusion about the role of the council and FODW in dealing with this tree, but in the end, council employees made it safe.

“However, FODW inspection of the tree has shown that it was one of three main stems and the other two are also showing signs of disease; indeed one of the remaining two is only being prevented from falling into the garden of the property by an adjacent ash tree.

“Separately, in the northwest corner of the wood in the middle of July, a very large branch of one of the old beech trees largely broke off and is now held partly supported on the ground and partly by the thin section of bark still attached to the tree.

“Although FODW dealt with the immediate path clearance need, the whole branch will need to be taken down at some point as separation of the branch from the tree by any mechanism could lead to the branch falling close to the nearby path.

“A discussion on boundary issues would be helpful.”

On the licensing issue, Cllr Lorna Douglas, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting, said: “It is recognised that this is a concern. I have notified the council and they are looking into it.”

On the Strathclyde Court matter, Cllr Douglas said: “It is just like a neighbour - you would not allow bushes to hang into somebody else’s garden.

“It is just about maintaining the trees and cutting them back on a regular basis, and it’s the council that does that.”