Speakout pleainbid to cutdog fouling

A Stirling rural councillor who was herself stopped by enforcement officers is encouraging the public to lodge their complaints about dog fouling in their own communities.

As reported in last Friday’s Observer, Trossachs and Teith SNP councillor Evelyn Tweed was herself halted by Stirling Council officers while walking her dog to ask if she had disposal bags, which she did.

However, this week she issued a call to people across Stirling not to put up with the mess and to inform officers of any hotspots.

She said: “I am glad to see the council is stepping up its efforts on tackling dog fouling as this is still a big issue in our communities.

“Unfortunately it’s notoriously difficult to deal with but it helps if people are reporting issues so that the council can target the right areas.

“Anyone who would like to complain about dog fouling can call 01786 404040.”

At a meeting of the council’s environment and housing committee last Thursday Councillor Tweed told of how she had been approached in a park one night by a council enforcement officer who explained dog fouling was an issue in the area.

Some members of the committee had suggested the problem was not being given enough priority, with only three formal warnings and one fixed penalty notice being issued between October 1 and December 16.

Officials had said there were difficulties given officers had to catch the dog in the act and the dog owner not taking action to pick it up.