New cabinet member promises to get tough on dog fouling

Councillor Ralph Ogg, in his new role as cabinet member for Safer, Greener, Cleaner Places at North Lincolnshire Council, is promising tough action on those who fail to clean up after their dog. Increasing the cost of on-the-spot fines is also being considered in a bid to clamp down.
Ralph OggRalph Ogg
Ralph Ogg

It costs taxpayers around £1m each year to keep North Lincolnshire streets clean - that is for littering, flytipping and dog fouling.

Not only is it costly to clean up the mess, you can also catch diseases which can cause you to go blind. Children in particular are more likely to come into contact when out playing in parks and woodland.

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Coun Ogg wants to see communities get on board and report anything they see so the council can take action.

He continued: “We all want cleaner, safer and greener streets and parks. Dog fouling is a problem, it is costing taxpayers for the council to clean up the mess, not to mention the diseases you can catch. The message is simple - clean up after your dog.”

Currently, people could receive an on-the-spot fine of £80 (reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days). If taken to court, the maximum fine on conviction is currently £1,000.

The council needs as much information as possible before it can act. This includes:

•Name and if possible address of the dog owner

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•Times of when it happens and if there are specific times of the day

•Any local knowledge

You can report dog fouling online at www.northlincs.gov.uk/dogfouling.

Coun Ogg continued: “Increasing the cost of on-the-spot fines is something we are currently considering in a bid to clamp down on dog fouling and help make our streets and parks cleaner and safer. It is not only costly to clean up the mess, but it is also harmful. Dog fouling can cause diseases, especially among young people and the elderly.”

“I am appealing to people to ensure if they witness someone failing to clean up after their dog, to report it. I know the vast majority of dog owners act responsibly. It is the minority who we need to target. So if you have any information at all that would help us, please tell us by reporting it online.”

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