Two Ellesmere roads identified as dog mess hotspots as council launches crackdown

Two roads in Ellesmere have been identified as dog fouling hotspots as councillors backed a campaign aimed at encouraging owners to act responsibly.

Cross Street and Wharf Road were named as Ellesmere Town Council unanimously agreed to support the initiative at a meeting on Monday, November 2.

Shropshire Council has asked town and parish councils to identify locations where dog fouling is causing concern, allowing resources to be directed towards areas where they could have the greatest impact.

As part of the nationally recognised Keep Britain Tidy campaign, councils can be provided with "We're Watching You" signs to support local action.

Mayor Councillor Pete Jones said he believed installing the signs would be a good idea.

"It's an element of name and shame, and shaming people into acting more responsibly, in my opinion," he said.

Shropshire Council recommends using the signs as part of a targeted, short-term intervention rather than leaving them in place permanently.

Under its proposed five-week approach, the first week would be used to select a specific hotspot and gather information from residents, councillors and local observations.

The signs would be installed during weeks two to four, alongside promotion of the campaign and targeted dog warden patrols where appropriate.

They would then be removed in week five so the impact could be assessed. If the intervention proved successful, the signs could be moved to another priority location.

Town clerk Jo Butterworth said Ellesmere Town Council could publicise the campaign and encourage people to report other problem areas, with the information then passed to Shropshire Council.

A Shropshire Council spokesperson said: "As autumn approaches and daylight hours reduce, we traditionally see an increase in concerns relating to dog fouling in parks, open spaces, footpaths and residential areas.

"While the vast majority of dog owners act responsibly, dog fouling remains one of the most common environmental complaints received by local authorities and communities.

"Bagged dog waste should not be left beside bins, hung from trees, fences or hedgerows, or discarded in the countryside. While the waste may be bagged, leaving it behind still constitutes littering and creates an unpleasant environment for residents and visitors.

"To ensure patrols are focused where they are most needed, we rely on local intelligence and reports from communities."