Irresponsible dog owners – We’re watching you
A new crackdown has begun to rid the streets and parks of Telford and Wrekin of dog mess.
For the next four weeks, volunteer Street Champions across the borough will mark dog poo with a yellow spray and record how many times they have done this.
To re-inforce the monitoring of the problem, luminous signs from Keep Britain Tidy warning irresponsible dog owners that “We are Watching You” will be put up in some areas. At the end of each week the dog mess will be cleared up.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement said: “How would you feel if you knew you were responsible for the yellow markings on the ground because you didn’t clear up after your dog?
“We want everyone to take pride in our communities and we hope that, over the next four weeks, there will be a reduction in the number of dog-fouling cases and, with it, fewer yellow markings on the ground.
“There’s no excuse for not bagging and binning your dog’s mess. There are more than fifty places across the borough that give away dog-poo bags for free.
“Last month, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to give our enforcement officers more powers to investigate environmental crime and to issue fines or prosecute offenders.
“Ultimately, they would have to resort to fining anyone who refuses to clear up after their dog.
“Anyone who fails to pick up after their dog can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £80. If you don’t pay, it could lead to a maximum fine of £2,500.
“If you see anyone not cleaning up after their dog, please tell us through our website www.telford.gov.uk/report or via the Everyday Telford app.
“Let’s take pride in our communities and clean up the borough.”
The full list of venues giving away free dog-poo bags can be found here: www.telford.gov.uk/dogfouling
