Dog owners in West Oxfordshire could be penalised with £100 fixed penalty notices under a new order being considered by the district council to curb dog fouling.
New PSPO to tackle dog waste
West Oxfordshire District Council has drawn up proposals for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that would grant it stronger enforcement powers against people who fail to clean up after their pets in public. Anyone breaching the order could receive a fixed penalty notice of up to £100, while those taken to court could face fines of up to £1,000.
Under the proposed rules, dog walkers would also need to carry something to dispose of dog waste, such as poo bags, whenever they are out with their pets. Council officers would be able to ask owners to show they have such items.
Six-week consultation launched
The council has started a six-week public consultation, giving residents, town and parish councils and partner organisations the chance to have their say before a final decision is made. The consultation is due to end on September 4.
West Oxfordshire District Council said dog fouling has become an increasing problem across the district. The authority said: "It spoils our parks, footpaths and open spaces, and can pose a health risk, particularly for children."
Council member urges residents to report problem areas
Alistair Wray, the council's executive member for environment and councillor for Bampton and Clanfield, added: "We are proposing a new order that would allow for £100 fines to be issued where dog fouling is caught or up to £1,000 for a prosecution.
"This consultation will give residents the opportunity to help shape this order that could make our shared spaces cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone, while ensuring any measures introduced are fair, proportionate, and practical.
"It is about sending a clear message that leaving dog mess in public is unacceptable."
He also encouraged residents to report areas where dog fouling is becoming a problem. "We rely very much on people reporting particular areas that are causing concern. You can go the West Oxfordshire District Council website and there's a form you can complete with a location and with that we can patrol those areas more intensively," Mr Wray said.
Exemptions and public reaction
The proposed fines would not apply to people whose disabilities affect their mobility or to those who are registered blind.
Richard Hanna, from Carterton, a town in West Oxfordshire, welcomed the plans. He told the BBC: "Dog owners should be responsible for what their dog produces. We have a lovely park here and it's always upsetting if you have to walk through dog mess. It's also the bags in the trees and things like that which is unsightly."
However, John Cannon, also from Carterton, questioned whether the measures would be enough. He said: "For the council to actually scare people, they're going to need lots of people on patrol.
"I think the off chance that there might be someone there to fine you won't be enough to put people off leaving dog poo behind if they're not willing to pick it up anyway."
