A town warden will soon be patrolling Oswestry for the first time —  issuing on-the-spot fines of £80 to litter louts and dog owners who allow their pets to foul the streets.

The town warden will also be asked to welcome visitors to the town and help with any queries they may have. But the full-time warden’s main priority will be to ensure the streets of the town are kept clean.

Oswestry’s town warden will be among 36 new community wardens who will be employed across Shropshire by the unitary authority.

News that Oswestry is to get its own dedicated warden was revealed to town councillors this week by Chris Edwards, from Shropshire Council’s environmental maintenance department.

Town councillors told him they received endless complaints about the continued problem of dog fouling in the town and its residential areas.

Mr Edwards said there were now 36 dog wardens across the county trained to issue fixed penalty tickets to dog owners.

“Oswestry is also to get its own town warden whose duties will include dog fouling and littering and who will be able to issue fixed penalty tickets,” he said.

“We also have a dedicated education officer who goes into schools and talks to youngsters about such anti-social behaviour.”

Steven Brown, Shropshire Council’s head of environmental maintenance, said: “We are currently recruiting for community wardens who will work to prevent littering and dog fouling across the county.

“The Oswestry area will have its own dedicated warden who will be able to enforce dog fouling and litter legislation. The primary role will be to educate people; however the officers once trained will be able to give out on-the-spot fines of £80 to anyone who drops litter or allows their dog to foul.

“We hope the officers will act as community ambassadors working with the police and local businesses to act as the council’s eyes and ears, finding out the community’s concerns.”

He added: “The wardens will also be there to welcome tourists and visitors to the county, helping them with any questions they may have.”

By Sue Austin