Worst dog poo areas in Halton revealed by fines
HALTON’S dog fouling hotspots have been revealed. Mersey ward in Runcorn tops the table making it the worst for dog poo not being cleared up in Halton, with 44 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued between 2013 and 2018, and 17 handed out in 2016-17 alone.
This was more than a quarter of the 165 fines dished out in total.
Ditton in Widnes was second worst with 32 FPNs imposed.
Riverside in Widnes was not far behind with 22.
One of the worst individual performances was Birchfield in Widnes with 14 handed out alone in 2016-17 but with none in any other year.
The totals for each h ward where fines were e given were: Appleton n 10, Ditton 32, Halton Lea 2, Heath 5, Riverside 22, Grange 3, Hale 2, Hough Green 5, Kingsway 6, Mersey 44, Daresbury 1, Halton Castle 3, Halton View 6, Norton North 1, Birchfield 14, Farnworth 4.
The data was obtained under the Freedom Of Information act by independent local election candidate Darrin Whyte, of Runcorn, and showed how many fines have been issued in the borough’s wards in the last five years.
Although the fines show that there must have been large quantities of dog mess in the wards with the highest numbers, the figures might not reflect the true amount in each neighbourhood and could be affected by factors such as how likely residents are to complain, how much enforcement has taken place and whether dog owners do not scoop the poop.
Consultation is under way over data, the council said perpetra“Owners who allow their dogs tors can be hard to catch in the to foul and don’t clean it up are a act. generally opportunistic, it will Mr Whyte, who shared the usually happen when no-one is fi figures with the Weekly News, around. s said he thinks the real scale of “If they see other people, or a th the problem is a lot bigger than patrol, they are likely to clean it su suggested by the level of fines. up.“This is why we ask residents He said: “This isn’t a true re reflection to what is a major that if they have information on p problem across the borough. any person who fails to clear up “Although issuing fines is difafter their dog, or particular times fic ficult, with wardens required to and locations that dog fouling ca catch irresponsible owners in occurs, please contact us in conth the act, some believe the council fidence and we will target those sh should be doing more to stamp areas.’’ ou out the problem.” The spokeswoman added: A Halton Council spokes“The Public Space Protection wo woman said: “The council makes Order proposals, which are curev every effort to catch people failrently out to public consultation, ing to clear up after their dogs, aim to encourage and promote but this is extremely difficult responsible dog ownership. because officers have to actually “The consultation ends on observe them doing it, which September 28, after which the means being in the right place at results will be collated and conthe right time. sidered, and a report produced “We are very active within the for a future meeting of the enviconstraints of our resources – we ronment and urban renewal poldo patrol known blackspots and icy and performance board. we deliver leaflets in areas where “After that, a report containing we know dog fouling has taken proposals will go before the execplace. utive board.” tightening council powers to crack down on fouling, with options including being able to bar dogs from some public spaces and to require dog walkers to show evidence of means to clearing up poo such as bags.
A local authority report published in June said dog fouling ‘remains to be a widespread nuisance’.
Following the release of the ●