Dog faeces smeared on kiddie’s slide

Residents take action in Halfway

Efforts are underway to fence off play equipment in a Cambuslang park after dog mess was found smeared on a children’s slide.

People living near Halfway Park last week discovered dog dirt and broken glass strewn across the play area popular with local families.

And whilst South Lanarkshire Council insists it cannot fund the erection of a fence around the play park to keep dogs away, locals say they will work with officials to identify potential funders for the £16,000 scheme.

Halfway Community Council is leading the initiative in partnership with local families.

Group members are keen to raise 10 per cent of the overall cost, £1,600.

Liisa Hepworth, secretary of Halfway Community Council, said: “Over the last six months Halfway Community Council has been contacted by a number of concerned local residents about the state of Halfway Park and specifically around the open children’s park in the middle of the wider park.

“South Lanarkshire Council will not fund a fence saying the don’t tend to do that when the children’s park is in the middle of a wider park.

“So we are now looking at supporting the community in Halfway, who so badly want this fence, to help them fund raise the cost.”

Alistair McKinnon, South Lanarkshire Council’s head of facilities, waste and grounds, confirmed the authority was working with the local group.

He said: “The vandalism of a children’s slide with dog mess is a particularly unpleasant act and we want to work together with the community to tackle this sort of behaviour.

“The council is not in a position to fund fencing at the play park. However estimated costs for an appropriate fence and information on potential external funders have been provided to the community council who have been advised that if they can secure funding the council, as its contribution, would design, tender and manage the project.”

Mr McKinnon added: “Broken glass and dog fouling is cleaned up as part of the regular ground services visits to the park with litter lifted and bins emptied three times per week and the path network mechanically swept on a weekly basis.

“There are a number of bins within the park which are dual use allowing the disposal of both litter and dog waste.

“Additional bins were installed last year following requests from the public and the local elected member.”

Dog fouling complaints and intelligence on the times, locations and possible offenders can be reported in confidence through the council website or by phoning on 0303 125 1015.

A community clean up of Halfway Park is also due to be organised in the new year.