Dog-mess fines not about the money - council leader

People not bagging and binning dog waste could face on-the-spot fines of £100

A council leader has said plans for £100 on-the-spot fines for dog fouling are aimed at changing behaviour rather than raising money.

Shropshire Council's cabinet decided on Wednesday to go ahead with the plan, which would introduce an authority-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).

Council officers will be able to issue fixed penalty notices from 1 June.

The authority's leader, Lezley Picton, said: "This really is about changing hearts and minds, it's not about £100 fines."

The Conservative councillor added: "I did hear someone say 'what are they going to do with the profits'? Oh, I wish there were some."

The PSPO covers four conditions forcing owners to clear up waste, keep dogs from fenced-off play areas, and ensure dogs are on leads near roads and when directed to by officers.

Councillors said they planned to focus their "limited resource" on hot-spots such as playing fields.

The decision was taken at a council meeting on Wednesday

"These fenced areas that we’re talking about are play areas for children and predominantly playing fields," Ms Picton said.

"If any of you have small children or anybody who plays Sunday football – it’s a real shame that one of the first things you do.. is walk the pitch to pick up what’s not been picked up by somebody else."

Opposition councillors called on the authority to back the new policy with a public education campaign to achieve a change in behaviour.

Green councillor Julian Dean said: "In order for that to happen we’re going to need a really good publicity campaign.

“I hope there’ll be a degree of imagination about how we do that."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.