Parking attendants can now target dog owners

CAR parking attendants in North Somerset will now be able to dish out fines of a different kind – to people who fail to clean up after their dogs.

North Somerset Council has given additional training to all its car parking attendants to allow them to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone who fails to pick up dog mess.

The attendants were also given advice on how to collect evidence which could lead to a prosecution.

The move comes at the same time as the authority has introduced 19 new dog control orders across the district.

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The new orders are either an extension of existing dog control orders or replacement of old district byelaws which restricted taking animals into specific areas within the district.

Dogs have been banned completely from some areas where in other parts of the district, they must be kept on a lead.

The authority has also launched a campaign encouraging people to report anyone they see failing to pick up dog's mess.

As well as car parking attendants, environmental health and area officers have also been trained up to issue dog fouling notices. It means an extra 30 members of council staff will be on hand to join the crackdown.

Pet owners caught not clearing up can be fined £75 on the spot or face prosecution and a possible £1,000 fine in court.

The council is already investigating several reports of people not picking up and plans to bring prosecutions against them.

North Somerset Council executive member for environmental protection Peter Bryant said most dog owners were responsible and did pick up after their animals but there was a small percentage who continued to pollute the streets and open areas.

He said: "Allowing your dog to foul and not picking it up is wrong on so many levels. Not only does dog's mess pose a health hazard but it is a disgusting anti-social practice that costs the tax payer money to clear up."

This summer the council successfully prosecuted a North Somerset resident who persistently allowed their dog to foul in a public place without clearing it up. Magistrates ordered the offender to pay £325.

But in the last year only three fixed penalty notices have been handed out to dog owners.

Anyone who sees a person failing to pick up their dog's mess can report it via www.n-somerset.gov.uk/dogmess or by calling 01934 888802.

Anyone witnessing an incident should note the date and time, location, description of dog and owner and any car registration number.