Poll: Tendring District Council pledges to hold dog poo blitz days

A successful day tackling dog mess has prompted the offer of more action on the issue across Tendring.

Nick Turner, councillor for the environment at Tendring District Council (TDC), has made the offer to all communities in the district.

The successful initiative in Clacton and Holland-on-Sea involved a team speaking to dog walkers from 7.30am to 3.30pm, spreading the message that they must clean up after their pets or risk a fine.

Veolia Environmental Services, TDC’s waste and recycling contractors, swept the area the day before with their mechanical cleaner, Fido, so the area was free of canine mess.

The scheme was co-ordinated by TDC dog warden Adam McGoldrick, who was joined by staff from the council’s waste management and environmental control departments, as well as PCSOs and the Jaywick Neighbourhood Team.

Despite the wet weather, the team spoke to 52 dog walkers and handed out 47 packs of dog mess bags, equivalent to 2,350 individual bags. No fines were given out as no one broke the law.

Mr Turner said: “If any councillor would like a similar action in their ward they need to contact me or the Street Scenes team and we will do our best to accommodate them.

“I also want to emphasise that TDC will prosecute owners who do not clear up after their pets where we have the evidence to do so.”