Dog Watch launches in Simmondley

Dog owners in Simmondley are being urged to clean up after their pets following concerns about fouling in the area.

Following the launch of its Dog Watch scheme, High Peak Borough Council is increasing patrols in hotspot areas and at Glossop Cemetery and has leafleted local residents and provided letters for the pupils at Simmondley Primary School to take home highlighting the issue.

Councillor Julie McCabe, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: "We are always keen to support local communities in addressing problems with dog fouling but the message has to be that there is really no excuse for it.

"The actions of the minority who fail to pick up after their dogs affect the majority and it is simply not acceptable which is why we will always issue fixed penalty fines to anyone we see not cleaning up.

"I hope that schemes such as Dog Watch really help to raise awareness of the negative impact of such thoughtless and irresponsible behaviour and that those individuals who might otherwise have walked away and left others to deal with the mess think again and change their ways."

Anyone caught not cleaning up after their pet can be fined up to £1,000 if they fail to pay a fixed penalty fine of £80 - and rates are set to increase to £100 in April.

The Council has issued 21 fixed penalties for dog fouling so far in 2018/19 and has prosecuted four people who failed to pay the fine.

Councillor McCabe added: "Two fixed penalties have recently been issued to people who allowed their dogs to foul in the vicinity of the cemetery so I'm pleased that the Dog Watch scheme will also cover this area.

"Whilst we will be increasing patrols in Simmondley and at the cemetery our enforcement officers can't be everywhere so I'd also like to remind people that if they witness a dog fouling incident they can report it via our website."