COUNCIL bosses are to toughen up rules on dog fouling in Burnley's parks.

But the issue is unlikely to bring the public outcry which beset the town in the 1970s.

Then, Burnley's ban on dogs in certain parks sparked High Court action, jailings and a seven-year "dog war" which was often in the national spotlight.

Tonight recreation chiefs will consider implementing new legislation to prevent fouling of all parks. But it does not involve any extension of the present bans.

Instead, the new Act will make it an offence for any dog owner not to clean up after a dog which fouls in a park or other open space.

A report to the recreation committee says despite the present restrictions, many parks and open spaces are heavily fouled to the annoyance of the general public and health risk to parks employees and children.

It states the the Act can be applied to all or parts of the land controlled by the committee.

It warns that the option, preferred by officers, to implement the Act on all recreational land, would be difficult to enact because the staff manpower would not be available to check all areas on a regular basis.

Success, it adds, would depend on a large part on members of the public identifying offending owners and testifying, if necessary, in court.

The report adds: "While officers will take action against those seen contravening the Act, they cannot be everywhere and the public must play its part."

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