Herne Bay dog poo problem is 'an embarrassment to the town'
WALKERS are kicking up a stink about dog poo problems in the Bay.
Fed-up families and perturbed pensioners say faeces underfoot is turning the town into a disgrace, as mounds of mess make a sticky minefield of the town's streets.
Photographer Nicola Blackledge counted 25 doggy deposits along Neptune's Jetty at the weekend.
She said: "The weather was pretty miserable, but that wasn't what hampered our enjoyment – it was the endless piles of dog faeces strewn along the route.
"With so many local people and businesses working tirelessly to promote Herne Bay as a pleasurable place to visit, it is sad that some people care so little about their local environment and think it is acceptable to let their dogs mess wherever they please."
Council bosses dispatched Fido, their dedicated poo-clearing machine, but we found another 17 piles there on Tuesday morning
Music teacher Tony Wenban, 38, of Mortimer Street, was also out enjoying the fresh air this week as we hunted for hounds with irresponsible owners.
He said: "It's my worst gripe about the town, which I otherwise love. But you walk down here and it's out of control.
"If you've got kids they can't run and enjoy themselves because it's all over the shop.
"If a child falls in it and wipes their eyes they could go blind.
"People should categorically clean up after their dogs. Otherwise it's an embarrassment for the town."
Former councillor Vince McMahan is also calling for action after being approached by residents with complaints.
He said: "It's a disgrace. And it seems to be getting worse. Serco needs to step up its cleaning. But more importantly, people need to clean up after their animals.
"If you are going to make other people's lives a misery and can't be bothered to clean up after your dog, you shouldn't have one."
Council spokesman Rob Davies said contractor Serco cleans up mess as soon as it is reported.
He added: "I understand there really was an extraordinary amount of mess. I would emphasise that if your dog fouls in a public area, you can be fined up to £1,000. We can issue fines if we see the offence taking place or if people are prepared to come forward with evidence."
Anyone with information about people who do not clear up after their dogs should call 01227 862000.
Where is the Bay's worst street of dog-mess shame? Call us on 01843 578176.
Comments
by Enufsenuf
Saturday, February 11 2012, 11:33PM
“Cardboard scoops and recycled paper bags are freely available in public areas in the Czech Republic.
Better all round than the futuristic poo-preservation properties offered by the plastic bag alternative, though not as easy to hang decoratively on the promenade railings.
Also useful would be bins with ash in which to discard the biodegradable bag of poop all over the place- used as compost is also a good cat deterrent (I'm guessing).
Another menace fouling the street - car ashtray dumpers, could unload their butts and ash in a more community spirited way by putting it to good use in the poop bin, in a perfect world- and only dead butts obviously: perhaps best if such people don't help in fact.
Dog owners ought to be asked to provide proof of having paid the licence fee, if suspected of owning a fouling mutt.
The fine should be accompanied by community service...they'll know how to pick it up after 70 hours of free training. Ex-foulers could give a 'shoeshine service' to remove trodden in poop from the shoes it's claimed.
Or we could cut the **** by just rubbing their nose in it so they know it's wrong.”