Dog walkers are being warned to clean up after their animals in Mile Oak – or face being banned from the area for good.
The crackdown comes from Lichfield District Council after a plea by Fazeley Town Council following a spate of problems with dog owners allowing their animals to go to the toilet on Mile Oak Recreation Ground.
Despite warnings of fines for owners who don’t clean up after their pooches, many have ignored the warning leaving the council to consider banning ALL dogs from the area.
Councillor Andrew James, Mayor of Fazeley Town Council, said:
“The recreation ground is a large public space, which is home to Mile Oak Rovers Football Club, Mile Oak Community Centre, a playground, a cycle track and a playing field. It is a central part of community life, but all the dogs’ mess is ruining it.
“This problem is not going away, despite the District Council having put up ‘no dog fouling’ signs, and Environmental Health officers taking part in a series of patrols in the area to catch people in the act of not clearing away their dogs’ mess. We think this has left us with no choice but to consider calling for a complete ban on all dogs being allowed into the grounds.”
To give dog walkers a chance to clean up their act, Lichfield District Council will be putting up more signs to alert them that they could face a fine of up to £80 if they do not remove their mess, and Environmental Health officers will be patrolling the area again. The District Council is also offering free dog poo bags, which will be available at Mile Oak Community Centre for a limited time.
Cllr Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Environmental Protection, said:
“Banning all dogs from Mile Oak Recreation Ground would be quite a drastic step. This is why we are calling on all dog walkers to start taking responsibility for their dogs, making a ban unnecessary.
“It is totally unacceptable to allow your dog to foul on a public space, especially if it is where children play. We hope this will help to improve the grounds for everyone, and will make local dog walkers think about the consequence of not cleaning up after their dogs.”
Fazeley Town Council is asking people who use Mile Oak Recreation Ground to give them their views on putting an order in place that would make the grounds a no go zone for dogs.
To give your comments, email Robert Young, Fazeley Town Clerk at rob@houseofyoungs.fsnet.co.uk or call 01827 707944.
In the meantime, anyone who sees a dog walker not clearing up after their dog is urged to report them by visiting www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/reportit or call 01543 308999.
Its a disgrace !!!
Fazeley and Mile Oak are such lovely places to live and selfish dog owners are not cleaning up after their animals leaving the whole community open to treading straight in it. Not only the open public spaces but the footpaths around homes and schools. It has steadily got worse in the last year or so. Serves them right if they do ban dogs – they only have themselves and fellow dog walkers to blame – name and shame these idiots I say !!!