DOG OWNERS in Malvern and surrounding areas could face fines of up to £100 if caught not carrying a scooper or bag to clean up their pets mess, under stricter powers being considered by council chiefs.
Malvern Hills District Council is set to toughen up on dog fouling in the district by introducing a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
The order would give council officers the power to ask dog owners if they have the tools to clean up after their pet.
Should an individual be unable to demonstrate they have the means needed for the duty they will be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £100 and a possible £1,000 court fine if they fail to pay.
If implemented, Malvern Hills District Council will be the first authority in Worcestershire to introduce the powers.
Currently, the authority can only issue fines if they see for themselves owners failing to pick up after their dog.
But the council is considering handing out tougher measures because it claims dog fouling has become a ‘major issue’ for residents across the district.
Between October last year and this September, Malvern Hills District Council received more than 100 reports of dog fouling.
And at the start of the year, the Malvern Observer reported how an action group had been launched in Upton-upon-Severn because angry residents were so ‘fed up’ of seeing the site of dog mess in parts of the town.
However despite the number of reports of dog fouling, the council has only sent ONE fixed penalty notice since April 2013. The council say this is because the current likelihood of catching an offender is low.
Councillors from the authority’s Executive Committee will decide at a meeting next Tuesday (November 29) whether to go ahead with a 12-week consultation on introducing the order – likely to start next month.
Once the consultation is complete, a final decision will be made whether or not to introduce the order.
Coun Bronwen Behan, responsible for environment at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Residents have repeatedly raised this (dog fouling) as an issue they want to see us do more to tackle and this is us responding to those concerns.
“If we do proceed to consultation then it’s really important people get involved and tell us if they support the proposal or if they object, what else they think we should be doing.”
Jill Eccleston, who launched the action group in Upton, welcomed the possibility of tougher measures but hoped the council would stick to their word.
“I am excited to hear that the council are going to give out tougher punishments but I’ll believe it when I see it!
“The council has let me down time after time regarding dog fouling. I have provided them with hard evidence many times and they have not acted.”
Guide dogs and people who are physically unable to comply with the requirements of the PSPO will be exempt from the new rule should it be implemented.
