Authority's campaign to clamp down on dog fouling

About £1,100 will be spent on the anti-dog fouling campaign

A new warden will be hired in Ramsey as part of a drive by town commissioners to encourage dog owners to clean up after their pets.

Commissioners vice-chairman Sandra Cottam-Shea said a "culture change" was needed and urged people to safely "educate those responsible" for failing to pick up dog waste.

However, she confirmed the authority would not be reintroducing dedicated dog poo bins in the town.

About £1,100 will be spent on posters and stickers to inform members of the public that they should instead use regular bins.

Stickers will be attached to public bins, explaining that they can also be used for dog waste

Cottam-Shea said: "This is an age-old problem that happens around the world, but there has been a constant rumble of discontent in Ramsey and we have to do something."

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the campaign would be more cost-effective than reinstalling "smaller dog poo bins" previously seen in the town since they "filled up so quickly and then spilled out".

Commissioners expect the signs to be in place around the town by late August

The vice-chairman said that while she was hoping for "positive results... a cultural understanding that this isn't acceptable" was required in the town.

Cottam-Shea acknowledged that some people may be nervous about confronting irresponsible dog owners.

"We mustn't put ourselves a risk," she said. "But we mustn't be afraid of challenging perceived anti-social behaviour in a safe and courteous way.

"It takes a village, it takes a town to change culture."

It is expected that the signs and stickers - which will be attached to public bins explaining that they can be used for dog waste - will be in place by late August.

The new town warden will also monitor issues such as parking, litter and anti-social behaviour.