A ZERO tolerance approach to dog mess in Burnley will see people hauled into court for failing to clean up after their pets.

Council bosses have warned that anyone caught will be prosecuted.

In the latest prosecutions, eight dog owners were fined a total of £1,400 on the same day.

Coun Neil Mottershead, the council’s executive member for community safety, said: “Without a doubt the problem is much worse than it used to be and that is why we need to take a tough stance.

“I hope the threat of ending up in court will force people into action.

“We have launched this zero tolerance approach against anti-social behaviour because putting an end to problems like dog mess, fly tipping and littering is important to Burnley people.”

Last year, 28 residents were prosecuted in court and handed hefty fines.

This year, the council is on target to prosecute around 80 dog owners, after already taking 20 people to court in the first quarter of the year.

Those appearing at Reedley Magistrates Court during the latest prosecution were:

  • Deborah Yarwood, 45, of Dean Street, Burnley, fined £200 for not cleaning up after her two dogs in Huffling Lane, Burnley;
  • Gary Tulmore, 48, of Branch Road, Burnley and Andrew O'Leary, 55, and William Holt, 39, both of Olympia Street, Burnley fined £150 for failing to clean up after their dogs at Fulledge recreation ground
  • David Fox, 22, of Holmsley Street, Burnley, fined £350 after being caught twice at Fulledge Recreation Ground
  • Louise Berry, 37, of Walpole Street, Burnley, fined £150, for not cleaning up in Briercliffe
  • David Kelly, 35, of Parkinson Street, Burnley was also fined £150 and Jamie Lowry, 21, of Laithe Street, Burnley, £100

All were told to pay prosecution costs of between £75 and £150.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “Some of the biggest complaints I get from residents are about people who let their dogs foul all over the place and create a mess.

“It is a serious issue and I am glad something is being done about it.

“It is extremely unpleasant for people and it is unsafe.

"There is nothing worse than a child falling or slipping on it.”

The council has recently invested £10,500 in new signs so they can enforce their penalties for dog fouling and dog exclusion zones in Burnley’s parks.

Dogs are no longer allowed in children’s play areas and they must also be kept on leads in cemeteries.

Coun Mottershead said: “The vast majority of owners are responsible and clean up after their dogs.

"Sadly there’s a small minority who are too selfish or simply just too lazy to bother and seem to think it’s OK to leave a mess for someone else to step in.

“It’s not. Dog fouling causes a health hazard, never mind the mess it makes, and anyone caught not cleaning up after their dog faces a fine and possibly an appearance before the court.”

As part of Burnley council’s zero tolerance campaign littering and fly tipping is also being targeted.

Neighbouring Pendle and Rossendale Council’s said they issue fixed penalty notices to tackle the problem in their borough’s.

Dog owners who are caught are issued with a £75 penalty notice.

Appearance at court is a last resort for those who don’t pay up within 14 days.

In the past 12 months, Pendle Council’s specialist dog fouling enforcement team have issued 50 fixed penalties, with 14 of those reaching court.

A Pendle Council spokesman said: “We know that dog fouling is an issue that matters to Pendle residents.

"Indeed the environmental crime team was set up in response to calls from local people that we should be tougher on people who drop litter, fly tip and don’t clean up after their dogs.”

In Rossendale, 10 fines have been issued since February this and five of those are due to reach court.

Rossendale Council’s Locality Manager, Catherine Price said: “We take dog fouling very seriously in Rossendale as it is a health hazard and is something that residents want dealt with.”