Dog owners warned they risk a £1,000 fine if they don't clear up their pets' mess
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has warned people they must clear up their dogs' mess - or risk a fine of up to £1,000.
The warning comes after a man was issued with £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for not clearing up his dog's mess in South Market Road, Great Yarmouth.
A witness reported seeing the incident take place as children were walking along the road heading to school. When officers made enquiries, he claimed he hadn't noticed his dog's mess but admitted not clearing it up.
He paid the FPN in full, which was issued under the council's dog control Public Spaces Protection Order. The order was first introduced in 2017, covers wide areas of the borough and aims to encourage responsible pet ownership. It says:
· Anyone in charge of a dog must remove the faeces from the land.
· Anyone in charge of a dog on land within the borough to which the public has access must comply with a direction from police, community support officers or council officers to put and keep the dog on a lead.
· Anyone in charge of a dog must keep it on a lead when in specific places (such as the town's Market Place) detailed in the PSPO.
· Anyone in charge of a dog must not at any time (or during the period specified) take it on to areas marked in the order, such as play areas.
Anyone breaching the terms of the order is liable to a fine under the legislation, which is designed to make sure owners recognise their responsibilities and their dog does not cause alarm or distress to others.
Councillor Paul Wells, GYBC's portfolio holder for Environment and Sustainability, Licensing and Waste, said: ''The majority of dog owners are considerate and responsible. However, there are a small number of people who spoil our communities by not picking up dog mess or who don't control their pets properly.
''The order has been successfully running for a number of years and enables us to take action against those who insist on being inconsiderate or, worse, causing a danger to others. We all want a town that is safe and welcoming for everyone and that we can all be proud of and this order helps with those aims.''
Full detail about the PSPOs currently in place in the borough of Great Yarmouth can be found at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/public-space-protection-orders
