By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A legal order allowing Gedling Borough Council’s wardens to fine people £100 for not clearing up after their dogs has been extended for another three years.
Over the last three years, the Labour-run authority’s neighbourhood wardens have been running extra patrols and installing signs and pavement stencils in areas where there has been a significant number of complaints.
Under a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), if an offence is witnessed by a warden the offender can be fined £100, and may face court and a £1,000 fine if they fail to pay.
While offences have been decreasing, from 244 reports of dog fouling in 2020/21 to 190 in 2022/23, the council says the issue is still a problem.
During a cabinet meeting on September 7, councillors agreed to extend the order for another three years across the entire borough, with the existing order due to come to an end in October.
Cllr John Clarke (Lab), the leader of the council who represents Netherfield, said: “You know the area I live in, in the Carlton area, there are absolutely piles of the stuff all over the place.
“And the subsequent work and the yellow signs are exceptionally good because there is a lot about now.
“It just focuses the mind because sometimes people forget and sometimes this ‘we are watching you’ business, which sounds a bit draconian, [works].
“But I’m afraid the mess that was being left in suburbs and places like that, not so much in town centres, but certainly around people’s homes, was unacceptable.”
Cllr Jenny Hollingsworth (Lab), for Gedling, added: “I’m very pleased to see we’ve got the opportunity to extend this.
“I think really we need to be clear that 99.9 per cent of dog owners are responsible and don’t cause this problem, it is just a very small percentage who leave us with a large problem, and quite large sometimes, and people complain about it.
“Can I just thank wardens who last year, when I gave them a problem on a new development, were able to very quickly have a presence there and reassure people.
“That was the other issue in that people did not think they were covered by this PSPO if it was a new development, so I think we need to make it clear that it is the whole of the borough, and whether or not it is a new development it is included in this order.
“It is a problem, it continues to be a problem, enforcement isn’t that easy unless the warden is on site and just happens to spot somebody, but it is education and I like the stencils on the ground, I think it is helpful.
“I know some years ago there was some resistance to that but I think they do work and it is a visual reminder when people are walking along to make sure they clear up after their dogs.”
