Portishead WI call for dog mess crackdown

They are more used to baking cakes and singing Jerusalem but a branch of the Women's Institute is launching a war on dog owners who allow their pets to foul the streets of their town.

Members of the 40-strong Portishead Women's Institute, which meets monthly at Somerset Hall in the town, have warned that the town could become the "dogs' mess capital of Europe" unless action is taken to crack down on people who fail to clean up after their pets.

The members say bylaws against the practice are not being enforced, leaving the town in a "disgusting" state.

WI stalwart Jacqueline Marshall-Lewellyn, a member of the organisation since the 1970s, made an impassioned plea to Portishead Town Council leaders to take a tougher stance against people who allow their pets to foul the roads and pavements.

The 63-year-old grandmother-of-eight said: "As a group we are very disappointed about the level of dogs mess in the town.

"We need the local byelaws regarding dog fouling to be enforced.

"It is not only people letting their dogs foul on the street and failing to pick it up which is the problem. There is dog excrement in nappy sacks left on public walkways and thrown in the bushes and adorning tree branches.

"The level of dog mess in the town is disgusting and the WI wants to see something done about it.

"Portishead could easily become the dog fouling capital of Europe, if not the world, if it is allowed to continue."

Mrs Marshall-Llewellyn said dog fouling was a real issue in the town's new developments.

Many of the roads in the marina and the Village Quarter have yet to be adopted, making it difficult to install bins and for dog fouling legislation to be enforced.

She added: "It is terrible walking along the Village Quarter and everyone seems to think it is not their problem.

"It is down to the people of Portishead to stand firm and sort this issue out."

Town councillors said that they had included a plea to people to clean up after their pets in their quarterly newsletter which is distributed throughout the town.

Portishead councillor and dog owner, Reyna Knight, criticised those people who failed to clean up after their pets.

Cllr Knight said: "I have six dogs and always pick up their mess. Unfortunately other people don't do the same and this is causing a real problem with mess, particularly in the new developments and the coast path."

North Somerset Council is currently in the process of installing 10 additional dog bins, funded by developers, in the Village Quarter.

The issue of dog bins and the level of mess left on streets and open spaces in the town is due to be discussed at the next meeting of the council's recreation and works committee.

Anyone caught failing to clean up after their dog could be issued with a fine of up to £1,000.