DOG fouling on the streets of Weymouth and Portland has reached 'horrendous' levels- but despite more than 900 complaints, only two people have been fined in five years.

The Echo can reveal that only two dog owners have received £75 fines from the borough council since 2010- despite 920 complains of fouling.

Now, residents and councillors are calling for owners to act more responsibly and for more to be done to tackle the problem, including more bins and signs.

Paul Kelly is just one unhappy resident who wants to see more done.

He said: “Obviously, it’s the owners' responsibility but I’m fed up of the council saying it’s one or two, it’s lots of them, you can’t say it’s just one or two.

“Dog mess is just everywhere.”

Councillor Ian Bruce said it’s a big issue for the town.

He said: “I agree with the general public that we should be prosecuting more people for this because it would then show to the few irresponsible owners that we are very serious about it.

“It is something that is mentioned on the doorstep during election times more than any other local issue.”

The council however, claim the problem is getting better.

The figure for the number of complaints doesn't just represent complaints over individual incidents but also reporting of general problem areas and requests for more signs.

Nigel Emery, business regulation and support manager at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “While the problem still persists in certain areas, often because the occurrence is late at night or in the early morning when apprehension of offenders is much more difficult, there has been a notable increase in the last few years of dog owners acting responsibly and picking up after their dogs.”

Residents have said there is a lack of signs reminding owners as well as bins to put waste in.

Cllr Francis Drake believes the responsibility lies with the owner.

He said: “They should pick it up. There is nothing worse than stepping in dog mess on the pavement. If you’re a dog owner then you have to clean up after your dog.

“The dog mess along our main path in Weymouth, along the Esplanade is horrendous.”

Mr Emery added: “The most effective way of persuading these owners to change their ways is for the public to politely challenge them when they see offences being committed so that they are shamed into better behaviour, or if the offender is known to you, to inform the council dog warden.

“This will greatly assist us as it is impossible to patrol everywhere all the time with the limited resources at the council’s disposal.”

A LACK of bins for dog mess has lead to complaints around RSPB Lodmoor Reserve from residents, birdwatchers and the RSPB.

Bins around and in the park are said to be overflowing and there is also an issue of mess on the footpaths.

Dan Bartlett, from the RSPB, wants to encourage responsible dog use in the park.

He said: “First I’d like to say we are dog friendly at the Weymouth reserves, we welcome dogs with their owner but the main thing we would have to say really is I would like more visitors, bagging dog poo and taking it home with them.”

He claimed that the responsibility for providing bins rests with the council.

However, the council say that part of this is the RSPB’s responsibility.

Carl Dallison, open spaces and bereavement services manager said: “The majority of Lodmoor is leased to the RSPB who are responsible for litter management in their areas.

“The Dorset Waste Partnership is responsible for the emptying of bins on behalf of the council. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to supply additional bins, only replace ones that are broken.

The council wants to encourage people who do come across full bins to report it to them and take their waste home.

Mr Bartlett wants to see more people acting responsibly.

He said: "We’d like to encourage people to come and act responsible and bag it and take away with them.

"We’d also like to see the council encouraging dog walkers to use bins where they are provided."

 

USERS along the Rodwell Trail are tackling the problem of dog mess themselves.

People have started using spray paint to circle the mess to highlight just how bad the problem is.

White circles can be seen scattered along the path.

Paul Kelly walks the trail with his son and mother and is one of the people spraying the circles.

He said: “It’s a big problem, a few of us have been spraying white circles on, it’s everywhere.

“They’re doing it on the wall, where you can see the kids love to walk.

“I speak to cyclists and they say ‘this is a good idea’ but you’re going to need more spray.”

He wants to take a petition down to the Sandsfoot Café to rectify the problem, including about the lack of signage warning dog owners.

He said: “It’s an idea to get a petition up down there about the amount of dog mess on the Rodwell Trail.

“You’ve never seen a sign up here.

He also feels more bins are needed on the trail with just one at either end.