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Originally Posted by katex
See report in the Observer, that the first person in Hyndburn has been fined for letting their dog foul the pavement. £ 75 plus £ 60 costs. As this law has been in force ? years, took a long time, didn't it ? Lots of people now being fined for dropping cigarette ends.
Who catches these offenders ? Understand if it is the Dog Warden's job, can't be everywhere can he ?
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I agree, you are right, the fines (Fixed Penalty Notices) for dog fouling and littering have been in place for a few years now. The dog fouling one has risen from £50 to £75 but still £50 if you pay earlier.
However the Conservative Council gave orders (to the Community Wardens) not to fine but to warn people. The Council over the 7 years of this administration have contiually pledged getting tough (check Cllr Britcliffes quotes online) and people have accepted it each time. Evidentially though there are the same no. of dog bins, litter bins, dirty town, very few fines. I would argue these are just empty words on their seventh lap!
The Dog Warden (a friend of PB) does as he pleases IMHO. I have yet to see him for instance contact ward councillors and have an action plan or review for each area, in essence there is little accountability.
Two weeks before this years local elections he was on the front page of the LET (against Officer/media/elections protocol) electioneering on behalf of PB and the Tories with a pair of binoculars saying he was having crackdown (again - 10th LAP for these words) to make the Council look like they were finally (finally again) tackling these environmental problems.
I asked him about Turkey St (200 pieces in 100 yards) and was told not enough resources, priorities and all that gumph. There definately needs to be a review of this service.
Some of the answers are straightforward. More front line staff to catch offenders (Wardens), tougher no nonsense policy (immediate fines and an end to verbal warnings) and more bins would help.