MAKE no mistake, the council chamber row over Barrow's football pitches was hardly Roy Keane v Patrick Vieira.

But while it was combative and entertaining, both councillors appear to have missed an open goal.

It might have been useful for them to strongly condemn the feckless who allow their pets to mess everywhere.

They could have urged the council to adopt a zero tolerance approach to dog fouling on council land?

The responsibility for dog fouling does not rest with football coaches, councils or companies in charge of grounds maintenance.

They give up their time for our kids, not to nursemaid those who can't be bothered to pay for poo bags.

We all know whose job it is to pick up after their pet and we all know whose job it is to enforce the regulations.

Education and the softly-softly approach has been tried and failed.

Too many people view an open green space as an excuse to let their dog run off the lead and conveniently look the other way when it does its business.

Too few offenders are being fined or hauled before the courts.

It wouldn't take much to catch offenders red-handed. Just send a team out at a certain time of day and you are guaranteed a collar, so to speak.

Fine them harshly and frequently. For once, let's start putting our kids' safety and our play pitches first.