Councillor fears 'draconian' plans could see owners fined over dog mess – even if it's cleaned up
Dog owners could be fined for "the audacity" of allowing their dog to foul in an area where the public has access – regardless of whether it's cleared up – a councillor fears.
Ludlow councillor Andy Boddington's claims come after Shropshire Council launched a public consultation to gather feedback on plans to implement a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the prevention of dog fouling and the collection and disposal of dog waste by dog owners.
The PSPO has five key components, but one proposal in particular – which would prohibit dog owners from 'allowing dog fouling in the public area' – has been met with backlash from county councillor Andy Boddington.
It is listed separately from a second proposal to prohibit 'failure to appropriately remove and dispose of dog waste if a dog has been allowed to foul'.
The councillor for Ludlow North fears the first rule would apply regardless of whether dog mess is cleared up by the owner or if people pay for access to that public area.
He says: "There is a welcome prospect of dog owners being fined if they don’t clear up poop. Shropshire Council has had these powers since 2013 but it hasn’t used them more than a few times.
"The proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will extend the power of issuing a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to a wider range of council officers and the police.
"The most contentious issue is the council’s plan to slap a fixed penalty notice on a dog owner whose dog poops anywhere the public can access.
"This applies to fields to which landowners have given access and to an owner whose dog poops at a dog show.
