Dog foul fines dividing opinion
THE Mayor of Liverpool last week announced his unorthodox idea of offering a year’s free council tax for anyone who shops dog owners who don’t pick up after their pooches.
Joe Anderson said he has had enough of the state of some of the city’s streets and wants people to help him sort out the problem by becoming pooper snoopers.
And with growing concerns over dog mess in West Lancashire, would the borough be right to follow suit?
Advertiser readers seem to be divided over the issue. Some are all for it... Andy Bowden said: “(Joe Anderson) rarely comes out with anything useful, but this is a cracking idea. Looking at the pavements around here, nothing else seems to be working.”
Edward Morrison Weights said: “This is a great idea.”
Charlotte Misty Bond said: “Yes. I don’t own a dog and yet there’s currently mess under the hedge outside my house, someone has left there. The signs etc. clearly don’t seem to be working.”
Fred McCann said: “Yes – and do the same for fly-tippers.” Others had different ideas... Helsbels Williams said: “A council worker stopping dog walkers and checking they have poo bags on them is a better idea.”
One (anonymous) reader said: “If you’re dedicated to your local community, you should be willing to [tell on irresponsible dog owners] simply because it is right – not because of monetary return.”
Hazel Robinson said: “If you were to report the serial offenders near me, no one would pay council tax and there really would be a black hole in the budget!”
And some were absolutely against it...
Jayne Crothers said: “This is a pathetic idea. What about all the plastics and rubbish that are dropped, causing a far worse problem for the environment?”
Jeff Wood said: “This is idiotic. Councils are already cash-strapped.”
Chris Jon Ryley commented: “This is an extremely badly thought-out idea.”
A spokesperson for West Lancashire Borough Council said: “There are no current plans to introduce financial incentives for supplying such information.
‘‘However we will monitor the effectiveness, or otherwise, of any initiative which may be being considered in Liverpool.
“The council takes the issue of dog fouling very seriously and takes a hardline approach with offenders. Council environmental enforcement officers are often out patrolling the streets looking for problems with dog fouling among other tasks, and will issue on the spot fines of £75 when they catch offenders.
“Unfortunately the enforcement team can’t be everywhere at all times so they won’t see every offence. But residents can help by reporting any problems they see 24-hours a day through the council’s website – westlancs.gov.uk/dogfouling – or by ringing the council on 01695 577177 Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5.30pm.”
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