Disgust at St Annes beach 'dog toilet'

A local photographer was taken aback by the mess as he walked on to the beach behind North Promenade car park, St Annes for a photo shoot.

He took images of the sight and complained to Fylde Council, pointing out that the filthy deposits atop a pile of sand, directly next to a discarded bucket and spade, would have been an inviting sight for a child, but could have resulted in blindness if the mess had been touched to a face.

“I was shocked and absolutely disgusted,” said the photographer, who wishes to remain anonymous.

“What a sight to greet us as we entered the beach at 10.30 on a sunny morning.

“It was a like a dog toilet and if a child had got to that, I dread to think what might have resulted.”

Tracey Hope, who leads the 2,000-strong Tossers in Lytham St Annes litter picking group, said of the find: “It’s horrible but sadly it seems to be an increasing problem.

“We go out every Saturday and the council works really hard to keep the area clean but it is vital that visitors show some responsibility and pick up after themselves and their pets.

“It’s not just about keeping the area tidy, it’s important for safety’s sake, too.”

Ironically, the mess was found at the northern edge of the amenity beach dog exclusion zone, which bars dogs, even on leads, from the beach either side of the pier through spring and summer.

A Fylde Council spokesman said: “It is disappointing that some of our residents and visitors fail to pick up after their dogs.

"A Public Space Protection Order is in place requiring dog faeces to be put in a dog waste or litter bin and additional bins have been provided for any waste to be put in.

"Fylde Council is currently recruiting for a number of additional officers to assist with anti-social behaviour such as this and any person contravening the PSPO may be given a fixed penalty of £100.

"People can also report things like this to us at https://new.fylde.gov.uk/report-it/ ”

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