Last updated at 14:59, Friday, 20 April 2012

AFTER two weeks of raising awareness and highlighting the problem of dog fouling, the Evening Mail’s ‘Scoop the Poop’ campaign moves into the second phase.

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Starting today, a series of poo patrols will take place across Furness and South Copeland.

A number of hotspots, nominated by our readers, will be targeted by the patrols.

More than 50 locations across Barrow, Walney, Dalton, Askam, Ulverston and Millom have been nominated on our interactive map.

The map on this page is a representation of our online version, which our readers have lit up with their dog muck hotspot nominations.

A number of schools will join patrols in Barrow, which Streetcare manager Alan Barker hopes will educate youngsters on the dangers of dog fouling.

He said: “Schoolchildren are going to accompany us on patrols around their schools which will hopefully highlight to the children the responsibility that dog owners have. It is also to let them know that when they see people letting their dog foul it is wrong and for them to tell an appropriate adult to report it.

“We want people to try and change their ways or we will catch them. And if we catch them, we’ll fine them.”

Rob Kitchen, South Lakeland District Council street care client officer, echoed the sentiment.

“With a multi-agency approach we want to make the South Lakes a cleaner place to live.”

Millom Councillor Reg Heathcote, who is a member of Copeland Borough Council, said irresponsible dog owners should be held accountable for their actions. He said: “It is disgusting when people don’t pick up after their dogs.

“Why should people going round town about their business have the possibility of standing in dog mess?

“Dog fouling is one of the worst things about the town and we are committed to doing something about it.”

One hotspot flagged up by residents is the start to the Cumbria Way walk in Ulverston.

But after a year of action by residents, town councillors, South Lakes District Council officers and the police, irresponsible dog owners have started to clean up their act.

Ulverston resident Paul Holmes said it used to be commonplace for walkers to knock on his front door and ask to wash their shoes down after treading in dog muck outside his Gill Banks home.

He said: “Dog fouling has been a problem since I’ve been here but nobody took it seriously.

“Since raising the issue with the Ulverston Town Council and SLDC there has been a huge difference.

“I’ve had my front gate smeared with dog muck in the past.

“But since the area has been cleaned I’ve had people knocking on my door with positive comments, and to pass on their thanks to the council.”

Starting last February, Mark Harris and his SLDC Streetcare enforcement team carried out a year-long campaign against dog fouling, in the hotspots around Ulverston.

The area around The Gill and Ladies Walk, near Ford Park, were patrolled by officers and PCSOs on a random basis, on different days of the week and at different times, to deter dog fouling.

Mr Harris said: “Now we have to keep on top of the problem with further enforcement patrols.”

Rob Kitchen, SLDC street care client officer, urged members of the public to stand up to those who let their dogs foul in their community. He said: “If we know of anybody who lets their dog foul, or if we have reason to suspect they have let their dog foul we will fine them or send them a letter to let them know we are on to them. If they let their dog foul we will catch them.”

Residents can report dog fouling anonymously to SLDC by calling 0845 050 4434 or visiting www.southlakeland.gov.uk.

• FREE poo bags will be given out with your Evening Mail throughout ‘enforcement fortnight’.

The poo bags, donated by Barrow Borough Council, will be given away with a copy of the paper by street vendors and available at our Abbey Road office. Supplies are limited and poo bags will be given out on a first come, first served basis.

First published at 13:28, Monday, 16 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk