Kettering Borough Council helps to Keep Britain Tidy

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KETTERING Borough Council has joined forces with environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, in an attempt to reduce dog fouling in areas across the Borough.

The new campaign will be launched by the end of November, following research that showed dog walkers are more prone to picking up their dog’s mess when they are being watched.

Keep Britain Tidy’s experiment showed that dog fouling tends to occur at night time and during the winter months as dog owners feel they cannot be seen 'under the cover of darkness'.

Shirley Plenderleith, Head of Environmental Health at Kettering Borough Council, said: “Dog fouling is still a key issue in certain areas of the Borough.

"The vast majority of dog owners are responsible and pick up after their dog but unfortunately a few irresponsible owners spoil an area for everyone.

"We hope this campaign reinforces the strong message that dog fouling is unacceptable."

Kettering Borough Council described the new poster campaign as ‘edgy’ and uses innovative, cutting-edge materials.

It involves glow in the dark posters with the slightly unnerving words ‘We’re watching you’ sprayed across them.

Also, Environmental Wardens will be patrolling on foot in the highest affected areas to make sure dog owners are being responsible.

Anyone found failing to clear up after their dog by these Wardens will be facing a hefty on-the-spot fine of £75.

After trialing these posters in other areas in the country, Keep Britain Tidy found that there was an average reduction of 46% in the levels of dog fouling.

Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Phil Barton, said: “We are delighted that Kettering Borough Council is joining with us for this campaign. 

"Our research tells us that people see dog fouling as, by far, the most unacceptable and dirtiest type of litter. 

"This campaign has been proven to make a difference and encourage the minority of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets to do the right thing.”

Councillor Derek Zanger, Kettering Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Keep Britain Tidy and being a part of such a cutting edge campaign. 

"We hope that we will see the same results as the local authorities who took part in the trial in helping to combat dog fouling in the local area.”

By Joe Shine