Signs of the times

     



Hundreds of signs will be helping to get over the message that Shepway Council is cracking down on dog fouling.

Three hundred signs, in a variety of sizes and styles, will be used in specially-targeted campaigns and others will be used throughout the district. Some incorporate a poster designed by six-year-old Lauren Coller of Lydd, who wrote to her local councillors and MP Michael Howard about her worries about dog mess in her town.

Cllr Rory Love, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said targeted crackdowns would start in May and would include:

• More patrols by officers - including outside normal working hours
• The use of high resolution cameras to gain evidence
• The option of taking owners to court where they face a fine of £1,000 instead of the usual £50 penalty.

"During the crackdown people will see a lot more of our officers. They will be patrolling early in the morning and in the evening, which are the times a lot of people walk their dogs. As well as catching irresponsible owners and preventing dog mess from spoiling our pavements and open spaces, we hope this initiative will help to assure people that the council takes their concerns about dog fouling very seriously."

Shaun Taylor, Shepway's Community Safety Advisor, said: "We know from feedback from residents and through the recent series of PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings, jointly run by Shepway District Council and the police, that the problem of dog fouling is a major concern for a lot of people."

Where special dog-waste bins are not available, owners can use ordinary litter bins for bagged dog waste. 

More information about regulations regarding dogs here.