South Derbyshire District Council is asking people if they want a dog control order to cover the whole of District so that you might not have to tiptoe through the mess that some canines leave behind. If the dog control order is set up, South Derbyshire District Council’s Safer Neighbourhood Wardens would have increased powers to keep areas free from dog mess.

Says Cllr John Bladen, Chairman of South Derbyshire’s Environmental and Development Services Committee, “We’ve nothing against dogs. It’s their owners who don’t do the decent thing and tidy up after them. The majority of dog owners are responsible and clear up after their canines. If we had a dog control order, if they don’t do some poop scooping, they could face a £75 fine. With a dog control order, anywhere accessible to the public is covered. With the older laws we have used in the past there were many exceptions. In the future, the only place your dog could use as a toilet is your own backyard and I’m sure most people clean that up without any problems.”

As well as stopping people from allowing their dogs to foul, with a dog control order, owners could be prosecuted for failing to keep their dogs on a lead and for taking more than a specified number of dogs onto specific land. Dogs can also be kept off specific areas.

Cllr Bladen continues, “We aim to be very balanced in our planned use of a dog control order. We would have areas where dogs can be exercised off their leads and places where people, especially children, can play safe from dog waste and dogs interferring with their play.

The District Council has already consulted parish councils about problems caused by dogs. Some parish councils have asked for the extra powers to be used.

At Woodville recreation ground, Woodville Parish Council would like the Safer Neighbourhood Wardens to ensure that dogs are kept on leads and that dogs are kept out of the multi-use games areas. Dogs could also be kept out of Blueberry Way play area, Woodville cricket ground and from the play area between Moira Road and Excelsior Drive.

Repton Parish Council would like dogs to be kept on a lead at Broomfields recreation ground and kept out of the Mitre playing field. At Rosliston dogs might have to be kept on a lead at Rosliston Primary School playing field, at the recreation ground on Main Street and at Strawberry Lane sports field and at Etwall dogs could be kept out of Chestnut Grove play area.

Says Cllr Bladen, “We began a 28 day consultation period in June. We hope to have the dog control orders in force by the end of July.”