Youngsters from New Tredegar have been learning about the impact that dog fouling and littering can have on their environment at a special clean up scheme, held in the village recently.
Led by the New Tredegar Communities Partnership, pupils from White Rose Primary School teamed up with Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police, Groundwork Caerphilly and GAVO for the day of action.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Enforcement Officers spent the morning taking part in a high visibility patrol, to warn dog owners against allowing their dog to foul public places and then failing to pick it up.
In the afternoon, they were joined by pupils from nearby White Rose Primary School, Groundwork Caerphilly and GAVO, where the focus turned from enforcement to education.
The group gathered at the Tanlan Playing Field in the village, where pupils took part in a litter pick, and where they also identified dog fouling, Enforcement Officers helped them to temporarily ‘flag’ the site to identify that an ‘irresponsible dog owner stopped here’.
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Public Protection said, “Schemes such as this one are vital in helping to educate people of the very real implications that dog fouling and littering can have on our environment”.
He continued, “Our Enforcement Officers and Community Safety Wardens work relentlessly to ensure that those who feel it is acceptable to litter or allow their dog to foul public areas and fail to pick it up do not get away with it”.
Cllr Les Rees, Chair of New Tredegar Communities’ Partnership said, “New Tredegar Communities’ Partnership has been working with Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police, Groundwork Caerphilly & GAVO to try and raise awareness about the dangers of dog fouling”.
He continued, “Dog fouling is a real concern for many residents and we look forward to a time when irresponsible dog owners will realise that it is socially unacceptable and dangerous to the health of our children to allow dogs to foul highways and open spaces without clearing it up.”
In the 2009/10, Caerphilly County Borough Council issued a total of 62 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, and 39 for littering. Of the total figure of notices issued, there were 14 cases of non-payment of the fines, all of which resulted in court action.
Caerphilly StreetPride is a council initiative that brings together the services that keep Caerphilly county borough clean, green and safe.
Its aim is to work with residents to keep street and neighbourhoods at a standard that promotes pride and community responsibility.
To report dog fouling or other environmental concerns in Caerphilly county borough, please call Caerphilly StreetPride on 01443 866 566 or visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/streetpride
