‘Absolutely disgusting’
WEBSITE VISITORS TELL US ABOUT MANSFIELD’S WORST AREAS FOR DOG MESS AND DEMAND ACTION FROM COUNCIL
MANSFIELD’S worst-hit areas for dog fouling have been revealed by readers – as calls were made for more enforcement action.
Readers on Mansfield Live’s Facebook page minced no words describing one “disgusting” area.
Their comments came as a councillor said more needed to be done to tackle the issue.
Reader Suzanne Hoyland said Racecourse Park was the worst area, adding: “It’s absolutely disgusting and getting worse by the day.”
Joanne Young agreed, saying: “The Racecourse off Eakring Road – it’s often all over the football pitches where the kids play.”
Dog fouling is illegal in the UK and irresponsible owners are liable for fines.
Councils offer dog waste bins for owners to dispose of their pets’ muck. Such bins are dotted around Mansfield and in popular beauty spots.
But Jean Mary said: “Racecourse off Maltby Road [is bad].
“Some dog walkers too busy on their phone instead of watching their dog [pooing] all over and not picking it up.”
Michelle Beech added: “Racecourse is terrible, four times now my grandson has rode his bike through poo.
“Absolutely disgusting. Two girls with a husky on end of Maltby Road other week, I asked them to clean it up and they just walked off and said it hadn’t done anything.”
The councillor for the area believes the problem is much more widespread and that more enforcement action is needed.
Councillor Steve Garner, who independently represents Racecourse on Mansfield District Council, said: “It’s the people more than the area. You’ve got a certain percentage of people who just won’t pick it up. “It’s the younger generation who just don’t bother. The little old lady with a Yorkshire terrier won’t be the person receiving a £50 fine.
“But I don’t think Racecourse is worse than anywhere else. The problem is there’s no enforcement and people don’t give a damn.
“There needs to be a deterrent. We don’t have nearly as many neighbourhood wardens anymore and the ones we do have are needed in the town centre.
“If more people saw other dog walkers getting fined for dog fouling I think it would put them off doing it in the first place.”
Debbie Ferguson agreed that the problem is more widespread.
She called for more bins and described seeing bags of dog mess “hanging” from trees.
She said: “I take my dog’s poo in poo bags back home and put in my own bin. Disgusting hanging bags up on trees. Also disgusted with the council who don’t empty the bins that are anywhere if you see them. There should be more bins around. It’s not hard, is it. It’s not just Mansfield, it’s everywhere.”
Other areas criticised were the Stanley Road area of Forest Town, Peafield Lane Park in Mansfield Woodhouse, Oakham Nature Reserve, and other beauty spots.
Mansfield District Council has been approached for a comment.
It’s absolutely disgusting and getting worse by the day
Suzanne Hoyland