I know from experience -and from the amount of complaints I receive- that the most irritating and persistent issue for the people in our villages is that of dog dirt on our streets.
Today was the first day of term for Blackhall Primary school and staff, children and parents alike were greeted back with the sight of piles of dog dirt on the pavements surrounding our school.
For a dog owner to allow their pets to foul any area of our villages is bad enough. However, considering that we are all aware of the link between dog waste and childhood diseases, I think it is unforgivable to allow a dog to foul the areas around our schools. Apart from being dangerous, messy and unsightly this problem is very time consuming and expensive to tackle.
I am convinced that the only effective way to deal with this problem is for everyone in our community to remain vigilant and report any instances of dog fouling to the wardens immediately and also be prepared to give a witness statement to wardens if a prosecution can be pursued.
It should be noted that the vast majority of dog owners are thoughtful and responsible people but this reputation is sullied by the few who persist in turning our streets into open, public toilets. My campaign is intended to expose this minority and hold them to account for their selfishness.
Please let me know if you are aware of any particular areas of concern in relation to this problem, or if you would like to discuss this matter further.