IT’S A DUNG DEAL

Horse poo surprise

Horse riders are being given `free rein’ to leave piles of dung in public spaces.

A concerned local has been told there is no mechanism in place for Stirling Council to take enforcement action against riders whose animals leave a mess on tracks and footpaths as there is no serious health risk to the public from a healthy horse.

The Observer reported last Wednesday how the council had deployed plain-clothed officers to crack down on lazy dog walkers who failed to pick up their dog’s mess.

In an effort to catch and fine people whose pets foul pavements and walkways, enforcement officers are to patrol in plain clothes across areas where the issue is seen as particularly serious.

Patrols have been taking place over the last two weeks in Cornton, Raploch, Plean, Cowie, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan.

However, Observer reader Steven Ballantyne said he often encounters piles of horse dung on paths near the new Cowie Primary and at Plean Country Park where there are horse trails.

“It’s crazy that dog mess has to be picked up but not horse mess,” he added. “Even the police don’t pick up the horse mess at events.”

A council spokesperson said: “The council has no enforcement powers to force horse riders to clear up after their horses. One of the reasons that there are no legislation or enforcement powers covering horse dung is that unlike dog fouling, horse dung from a healthy horse presents minimal risk to human health.”

Dog owners can be punished under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 for failing to pick up after their pet. Anyone caught leaving dog mess in any public open space could be subject to a fixed penalty fine of £40 or a report to the Procurator Fiscal resulting in a fine of up to £500.