Published: 9 September 2020
An email received from a resident of Littledown is published below:
“I have become increasingly annoyed and frustrated by the amount of dog excrement on the verges outside properties in Littledown. It was when a resident of Vernham Dean, walking her dog through Littledown, mentioned how shocked she was by this, that I felt the need to bring it to the attention of the Parish Council.
Before I am able to mow the verge, I have to spend a considerable time trying to ensure all the dog excrement is removed. On occasions, I have been caught out – this is not only unpleasant but a health risk. On some occasions, when dog owners actually bag the excrement it is left outside our front gate for us to dispose of! If irresponsible dog owners do not want to clear up after their pets then they should actively discourage dogs to foul so close to properties – just a few meters out of Littledown there are tracks and no properties.”
The issue of dog fouling comes up continuously. Whilst most dog owners are responsible and clear up after their pets there remain those who do not and who create nuisance and unpleasantness for users of footpaths and for the owners of roadside verges.
Other than to appeal to dog owners to be responsible the Parish Council has no powers of enforcement. It is therefore suggested that as a last resort the environmental health department at TVBC be contacted at the following address: