Pennines councillors address dog fouling issues

Councillor Allen Brett

Pennines councillors have asked Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in the area to target those who don’t clear up dog mess following an increase in complaints.

At a meeting of the Pennines Township Committee on Tuesday (3 March), Councillor Allen Brett asked the police in attendance to instruct PCSOs on patrol to target dog fouling issues.

He said: “Can you ask your PCSOs to target dog dirt. Nobody ever seems to see these phantom dogs and I know for a fact that it is very bad in Newhey.”

Other areas where dog fouling has become an issue include Birch Road, Canal Street and Hollingworth Lake.

Councillor Brett added: “The majority of dog owners are responsible and you do see them walking with their bags and things but there does seem to be that 10-15% who think it is alright to leave it.”

Councillor Ann Stott added that even though there are bins provided at Hollingworth Lake, they are not used.

She said: “At the lake it is picked up and bagged up but it is hung on a tree! I don’t know what we can do because there are bins there.”

Inspector Niall Hayden-Pawson from the police said that he will instruct those out on patrol to deal with the issue when necessary.