Irresponsible dog owners could soon find themselves out of pocket, thanks to a new campaign by Cheshire East Council.
The authority's Community Wardens are to go undercover in the parks and streets of Cheshire East looking for dog owners who do not clean up their pet's mess.
Those caught by a warden will receive a fixed penalty notice of £50. Failure to pay the fine can result in the owner being prosecuted and receiving a fine of up to £1000.
The plain clothes officers, who will carry Cheshire East Council identification cards, will ensure the waste is removed and put in a litter bin or dog-waste bin.
A number of hotspots have been chosen, across Cheshire East, where dog fouling has become a particular problem.
I'm hoping Alderley Edge is amongst the places being targeted and I have put in a request that the Community Wardens visit the village.
I am completely fed up with having to avoid dog mess in the village. I fully appreciate the problem is caused by the minority of dog owners but it is absolutely disgusting and an issue which I encounter every day as I walk my daughters to school.
Saying that, I have my doubts they'll catch many of the culprits, surely these people only fail to clear up when no one else is around.
Tony Potts, Cheshire East Council's Community Safety Manager, said: "No one likes to see dog waste in the street or in their local park – not only is it unattractive but poses a severe health risk, particularly to young children.
"There is no excuse for the minority of dog owners who consistently fail to clear up their pet's mess. We will continue to fine those who ignore the warnings until the message gets through. We will not allow dog fouling to spoil people's enjoyment of their local environment."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
What most are concerned about is fouling on footpaths and in parks. This is much more difficult to sort out... as with most of these things run by the council, its target based, so the easiest route to achieve this target will be used, even though it will make no difference to you and me when walking in the park or footpaths.
We were troubled on the footpath leading from the end of Lydiat through to the fields at the back of Netherfields; with people appearing to make some sort of demonstration by hanging doggie pooh bags, with contents, from the hedgerow. After a phone call or two, MBC quickly resolved the situation by installing a bin. Just not sure which of the above is more economical, given the ongoing cuts but the bin certainly made a difference in that particular situation; shamed rather than named perhaps!
I watch two particular people walk their dogs near my home and regularly find mess after they have gone by - if I ever see them "in the act" as it were I will dash over with a poo bag for them and (politely) ask them to clear it up! My boys play cricket and football on the grounds where these folk leave dog mess and it's just not fair.
These few people reflect so badly on the majority of dog owners who clear up and dispose of their dog's waste responsibly but we are all tarred with the same brush...
I would like to know if they will be doing enforcement in the evenings, as I would think most of the poo appears in the hours of darkness??
On this particular issue I agree with the old councillors on one of our smaller islands... birch the culprits when the undercover person catches them... spare the rod and spoil the offender? Or to be more realistic, put them onto the 'community payback' scheme; a day or three of shoveling up poo might encourage better control?