THERE has seemingly been an increase in the number of dog owners in Launceston allowing their pets to foul the streets, Launceston Town Council heard last week. Town councillor Dave Gordon said there was even an incident on a recent market day when a dog fouled Broad Street outside the councillors’ surgery ‘in full view of everyone’, without picking the mess up.

Areas that have suffered in particular include the town centre, Race Hill, Priory Park, Roydon Road, Tavistock Road and Dunheved Road.

Ideas put forward to address the problem included looking at if it would be possible for the town council to fund dog warden training for members of local residents’ associations, and for the clerk to discuss the issue with Cornwall Council.

Cllr Gordon said: “Over the last few months there seems to be an increase in dog owners allowing their dogs to foul our streets.

“Cornwall Council’s dog warden covers a ridiculously large area. My personal view is as a town council we have a duty to address this growing problem.”

He added he felt ‘realistically, the only way we can get on top of this problem is fixed penalty fines to be issued’.

He continued: “Visitors will soon be arriving in our town. For the town council to do nothing is not an option for our community.”

The town council has a dog fouling and litter enforcing officer, but as he already has a full time job as a groundsman, Mayor Cllr Margaret Young said: “It’s a time thing for him. We either take him off groundsman work as a temporary measure or look for someone else to do it. It would be nice if the residents’ associations took responsibility as well.”

Town clerk Christopher Drake said: “The problem we have is we’re right on the cusp of grass cutting season. If we are going to start pulling colleagues it’s going to have a detrimental effect or alternatively there’s a cost for additional hours that could be offered to colleagues.”

Cllr Brian Hogan said: “Perhaps the residents’ associations might be a way forward. If the residents’ associations are willing then have members trained as dog wardens in the first instance. I’m sure the town council through the finance committee would be prepared to look at possibly funding the training.”

Cllr John Harris asked if councillors could ‘sound out’ their local residents’ association, and Cllr Young said this was a good idea.

Cllr Val Bugden-Cawsey explained she formerly chaired the St Stephen’s Residents’ Association, and said: “Dog fouling was high on the agenda of every meeting.

“We haven’t got enough dog bins for a start and not enough rubbish bins either. I think the only thing that works is somebody on the street that has got the uniform that will be walking around all times of the day that will issue on the spot fines.”

Cllr Helen Bailey said the issue was raised to her by a Dunheved Road resident, who said offenders were leaving the mess rather than picking up after their dogs early mornings and late at night.

Cllr Jessica Williams said her husband is ‘always disgusted’ by the mess at Coronation Park.

A resident of Kensey Valley, Cllr Williams added: “It’s always outside my house, I’m always picking it up. It’s probably a much bigger issue than we realise.”

Cllr Sam Allen, also resident of Kensey Valley, said there have been problems on the area’s ‘road to nowhere’, and that posters were put up explaining the effects dog mess could have on people’s health. She said this approach seemed to help.

Cllr John Conway said: “Any reasonable dog owner I would expect them to have a suitable device to pick up the muck that goes with the dog. We need to publicise it throughout the town. Make it totally unacceptable if you have dogs and don’t pick up after them. Just make it socially unacceptable.”

Cllr Leighton Penhale said: “We continue to talk about this and it goes around and around and we get nowhere. I don’t believe that every dog owner is responsible. I believe some dog owners are devious.

“If I do [see a dog owner] they are always so particular to make sure they pick up.

“I believe personally if we have got somebody around we will finally find they disappear because they become responsible people.”

Cllr Brian Keighley pointed out dog mess bags are available for free from the town council offices in the Town Hall or from the Tourist Information Centre, adding there is ‘no excuse’ for people not to pick up after their dogs.

Cllr Paul O’Brien said: “I think we should ask the clerk to discuss the issue with Cornwall Council and come back to us when he has been able to find out the view of Cornwall Council.”

It was agreed the clerk contacts Cornwall Council about the problem, and that the finance and general purposes committee considers financing dog warden training.

Members of the public who do not pick up after their dogs face a fine of up to £1,000 or can received a fixed penalty of £80. To report dog fouling to Cornwall Council call 0300 1234 212 or report it via www.cornwall.gov.uk/reportit