A COUNCIL has revealed it spends around £30,000 clearing up 100 tonnes of dog mess from public areas each year.And now Tendring District Council has warned that dog walkers who fail to pick up after their animals could face hefty fines.

By Roddy Ashworth

A COUNCIL has revealed it spends around £30,000 clearing up 100 tonnes of dog mess from public areas each year.

And now Tendring District Council has warned that dog walkers who fail to pick up after their animals could face hefty fines.

The situation starts to escalate in the autumn as some people feel they can get away without being spotted on dark mornings and evenings.

In a bid to tackle the problem the council has ordered a new supply of 10,000 poop scoop bags, which it is handing out free of charge and encouraging owners to use.

The council has also reinforced its warning that it will prosecute anyone caught not cleaning up after their dog. It is an offence not to do so and carries a maximum fine of £1,000.

Michael Talbot, portfolio holder for the environment at Tendring District Council, said that fortunately the majority of owners acted responsibly.

“However, there are some - and quite a number by the amount of faeces we have to clear up - who are deliberately flouting the law,” he said.

“It is both unpleasant and a risk to health and we are not prepared to tolerate it.”

Mr Talbot said the council provided 262 bins across the district specifically for dog excrement, as well as more than 1,000 other bins into which dog mess can be placed, provided it is well wrapped.

The aim is to get all owners to dispose of it in bags and into the dog bins, or other bins if necessary.

The poop scoop bags are available from Clacton Town Hall, the tourist information centre, Weeley council office and council cash offices in Frinton and Dovercourt.

Mr Talbot said that dog wardens do make regular patrols but urged that anyone who witnessed a dog owner avoiding his duty to report them.

That can be done to the dog warden service on 01255 686766.