Enforcement officers working for the council patrolled almost 30 dog fouling trouble spots since a new crackdown started in March.
Councillors and members of the public helped identify problem areas by reporting them online at www.nelincs.gov.uk/dog-mess.
Officers put up signs to remind people to pick up after their pets or face a fine. The signs also remind dog walkers they face a fine if they don’t carry a dog poo bag or other means to pick up after their dog.
Enforcement officers are making spot checks and offering advice to dog walkers about the means to pick up rules. All officers wear uniform and carry an identification card.
During May, any dog walkers found not carrying a bag or other means to pick up after their dog are given a verbal warning but from June onwards, they will be fined £100.
Report dog mess problems
The Council encourages people to submit reports about dog mess problems using an online form at www.nelincs.gov.uk/dog-mess.
Remember to include details such as the location and the time of day when making a report.
Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:
“Most dog owners take responsibility for their pets, unfortunately a careless few choose not to.
“I’m grateful to those who contacted us to let us know about areas where dog fouling is a problem.
“Our officers need a lot of information to help identify irresponsible dog owners. If you are reporting dog fouling to us, please include details such as the time and place it is happening along with descriptions of the dog and its owner.
“Sharing information with us helps to target patrols at the right time and in the right location.”
Cllr Shepherd added:
“From the start of April to the end of May, officers fined five dog walkers £100 for not picking up after their pets or letting them off the lead in the cemetery. Another 328 people received fines for walking their dogs on the main beach in Cleethorpes.
“In that time, 89 fines have been issued for littering, eight for littering from vehicles and 51 for cycling in the pedestrian shopping area in Grimsby town
“Most people want the streets, the beach and parks and open spaces to be clean and tidy. Each year, we spend about £1.5 million keeping the area clean. If you choose to mess up the place with litter and dog dirt, we will fine you.”
PSPO
Public Space Protection Orders introduced in 2019 gave the Council more powers to deal with irresponsible dog owners.
A borough-wide PSPO covers not picking up dog mess, not carrying the means to pick up after your dog and to put your dog on a lead when told to do so by an authorised officer.
There are also PSPOs for specific areas with conditions that exclude dogs from play areas and keeping dogs on leads during organised events.
Dogs are not allowed on the central beach between Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and Wonderland from Good Friday to 30 September.
A fixed penalty notice can (FPN) be issued to any person who breaches a PSPO, giving them an opportunity to avoid prosecution by paying a fixed penalty of up to £100.
FPNs are issued as part of North East Lincolnshire Council’s contract with Doncaster Council.
Anyone found guilty of an offence in the Magistrates’ Court is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level three on the court’s standard scale of fines (currently £1,000).
Why dogs are banned from the main beach
Primarily it is a requirement to obtain Blue Flag Status. The Seaside awards are part of the Keep Britain Tidy portfolio.
The Blue Flag Criteria states that ‘During the bathing season dogs must be excluded from the award area’. Cleethorpes relies heavily on tourism and Blue Flag status is the bench mark that makes it stand out and attract visitors.
Around the country, all beaches with a Blue Flag Status have the same stipulation. By restricting the dogs to designated areas of the beach during the summer season allows everyone to enjoy the beach.
Dog mess problem areas
- Officers put up warning signs and are patrolling the following areas:
- Eastfield Avenue
- Great Coates
- Station Road, New Waltham cycle track to Peaks Parkway
- Fuller Street Bridge (both sides)
- Beach wall (North Prom Side)
- Cleethorpes Country Park
- Grant Thorold Park
- Weelsby Woods
- Wybers Estate
- Sussex Park
- Cleethorpes Boating Lake
- Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and outdoor paddling pool
- Patrick Street underpass
- Scartho Road Cemetery and nearby woodland
- Cleveland Bridge
- Humberston Fitties
- Buck Beck Car Park
- Humberstone Road
- Church Lane Park (Immingham)
- Hawerby Road
- Second Avenue, Grimsby
- Broadway (outside Western Primary School).
- Harrington Street and Park Street
- Stallingborugh
- Neville Turner Way park, Waltham
- David Street (alleyway to Lidl)
- Sand bank behind Meridian point.
Article and image from NELC.
About the author