THE responsibility of emptying dog bins in Stanhope Park will now fall on Holsworthy Town Council.

Council handyman George Wilcox will undertake the job.

As of Monday, August 14, the town council took over the contract, adding the responsibility of emptying and discarding of the dog bin waste in Stanhope Park.

This will be included in their current schedule of maintaining certain areas of the park.

The town council will continue to ensure that Stanhope Park is kept clean for the community — especially for those who use the park on a regular basis including the Town Band who performed there regularly, the youth sports games that are played there every week and for users of the new sports pavilion which is still in the process of being built.

A council spokesperson said: “The dog bins in Stanhope Park are essential for dog owners and everyone alike. Stanhope Park is used by children and adults, whether it is for the Town Band performance on the August 19, Holsworthy Youth Football or Holsworthy Cricket Club.

“It is paramount that the dog waste is picked up and disposed of in the correct manner and that the dog waste bins do not become overfilled. It has therefore been decided that the town council’s handyman will empty and disinfect the dog waste and dispose of the contents of the bins in the correct manner.”

The council warn that those who do not dispose of their dog waste correctly could be fined. They added: “Most people that walk their dogs in Stanhope Park are responsible dog owners but it is an offence for a person in charge of a dog not to clean up immediately if the dog has fouled on public land.

“Should the council be made aware that a dog owner has not cleaned up any mess left by his or her dog, a fixed penalty notice of £75 may be issued or a fine of up to £1,000 be imposed by a Magistrates Court.”