Dog mess vow by councillor

A civic leader in south Shropshire plans to patrol the streets of Ludlow and take pictures on his mobile phone of dog owners who let their pets foul pavements.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith branded the town's new green wardens as "ineffectual" and said he had been forced to take matters into his own hands.

He will then present the evidence to South Shropshire District Council so that offenders can be issued with fixed penalty fines or taken to court.

Councillor Taylor-Smith said: "I don't want to become know as Ludlow's dog muck campaigner, but something has to be done.

"This is an emotive issue, especially in a tourist town. The new wardens have been ineffectual."

Councillor Taylor-Smith said he wanted the district council to obtain CCTV footage from police.

He said Ludlow had a number of CCTV cameras and there would inevitably be evidence on them of dog owners letting their pets foul public areas.

He added: "I will take photographs of people if I see their dogs fouling public areas.

"I am getting hammered in Ludlow by people who are criticising the council for not doing enough. We are employing people to tackle this. We need to find someone and fine them."

Councillor Colin Pendry said warning letters had been sent successfully to dog owners in Clun, where there had also been problems.

He said: "The results are very noticeable. Warnings were sent to a woman who let her dogs go loose. Everybody found out about it and it has had a positive effect."

Bill Jones, the deputy director of South Shropshire District Council, said: "I would welcome evidence so that we can take action. As soon as we have evidence proving that a dog is fouling the pavement and proving who that dog's owner is we will take action."

Councillor Cecilia Motley, the district's leader, added that the district's dog wardens should go incognito to catch people. She said: "It is no good if they have 'dog muck' warden attached to their lapels. It is a good idea to send them out incognito."

By Andy Richardson