Pavement warning to lazy dog owners

Bloomfield councillors Graham Cain and Jim Hobson have been working with the local community to tell dog owners in the neighbourhood to pick up after their pets or face paying an £80 on the spot fine.

And to help the message stick, the two have been using environmentally friendly paint to stencil the message onto the pavement.

The striking yellow paint displays the message ‘pick up or pay up’ and has been stencilled around the Ibbison Court area just off Central Drive.

Painting of the stencils took place with help from members of the local New Revoe Residents Association.

Coun Graham Cain, said: “We’re keen to help clean up the streets in Bloomfield for families to use safely.

“The council is already cracking down on people who are caught not picking up after their dogs have fouled, in the town centre and promenade area by utilising our enforcement teams.

“Hopefully, our work around Bloomfield can also help spread the message that failing to pick up after your dog fouls in a public space is not acceptable and that if you are caught then you will be fined.

“A lot of work has taken place to attract more families to the Ibbison Court area, including a new playground and events in the community centre, so we want to make sure that it is kept clean too.”

Fellow ward councillor Jim Hobson added: “Dog fouling is one of the biggest complaints we get from members of the community. It is a filthy habit and an emotive issue.

“Hopefully these stencils will stand out and make people think twice before leaving dog poo on the street.

“If anybody else wants these stencils doing in their local area then they should contact either myself or councillor Cain.”

To request stencilling on your road in the Bloomfield area, contact Coun Jim Hobson or Coun Graham Cain.

Pet owners could be ordered to hand over samples of their dogs’ DNA under extraordinary new plans to combat fouling.

In April the Gazette reported how officials at Wyre Council hoped forensic testing of dog mess will put a stop to irresponsible owners leaving faeces lying on pavements and in parks across the borough.

Under the plans, DNA would be collected from dogs using a cheek swab which would then be sent to a lab, with the details logged by Poo Prints UK, an animal DNA specialist based in Flintshire. It would allow offending piles of poo to be tested and traced back to their owners with 99.9 per cent accuracy by one of Wyre’s five Street Scene staff, leading to an on-the-spot fine of £75.