TOOWOOMBA dog walker Chris Meibusch has described Toowoomba Regional Council’s regulations in the Alex Horn Park in Mt Lofty as “barking mad”.

Mr Meibusch has walked his dog in the Stuart St park off-leash since the 1980s and had recently noticed new signs stating new dog-walking regulations.

“In essence, dogs are to be run off-leash to the right of the meandering path and on-leash to the left of the path,” he wrote in a letter to the council’s Parks and Recreation portfolio.

“Is it seriously expected for our canine friends to have to take reading lessons to learn which side of the path they are allowed to roam?”

He said the park had operated “perfectly well” for the past 30 years without council regulation.

After gathering more than 60 signatures supporting his statements, he has organised a rally protesting the regulations on Saturday at the park at 8.30am.

Dog owner Robyn Campbell believed the changes came about after a recent complaint from a nearby resident new to the area whose dog would bark at dogs in the park.

“Without any prior consultation, dog owners were then asked to restrict their dogs to avoid this fence line and adjoining parkland,” she wrote.

“The majority of users are, without doubt, socialised, happy, healthy dogs – and their owners.”

Council’s environment and community services manager Nick Hauser said extensive consultation was completed in 2013 before any changes were made at the park, but would not rule out revising any changes.

“If it is the view of the community that amendments to the dog off leash area at Horn Park are required then council is prepared to give this due consideration,” he said.

“There is an alternate view in the community that provision of an accessible route of travel is required for people not wanting to be harassed by dogs off-leash.”

Council recently completed an education program targeting irresponsible dog owners regarding picking up after their pets in public parks.