DOG owners whose pets foul council-owned land in Rossendale could soon face fines of up to £1,000.

Councillors are being urged to make fouling of land an offence but are still unsure about how the new order would be enforced.

The order, which is to be made under the 1996 Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act, will cover more than 80 council-owned recreation areas popular with dog walkers, including Whitaker Park, Marl Pits sports complex, Whitworth Festival Park, Stubbins Memorial Ground, Helmshore Park and Memorial Gardens and the borough's four cemeteries.

It is due to be discussed by the council's environmental health and leisure committees next week following a report from the council's legal department recommending that the order should go ahead. The proposals were widely advertised and only one objection - from someone who criticised the level of fines - was received.

Although the maximum fine is £1,000, a £25 on-the-spot fine is more likely. But no decision has yet been taken on how or by whom the fines would be imposed.

WDS, the company which operates Rossendale's dog warden service, has told councillors it prefers education and more "poop scoop" bins to a heavy-handed approach.

Councillors have also been warned that other authorities have experienced problems. A report points out: "One authority brought the provisions into effect on May 1 and had to scrap them by May 25 following two serious assaults on the authorised officer."

The report added that other measures adopted by different authorities include video cameras, notices of fines by post and authorising traffic wardens to catch fouling dogs and their owners.

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