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February 2023 A minority of dog walkers will go to great lengths not to put their dog waste bags into their own bins. If there is not a convenient bin handy, or a bin is full, they may dump it on the road, in the verge, or even in a surface water drain. As the photo illustrates some will even stack bags on a full bin in the vain hope that they will not fall off or blow to the floor, where they become very attractive to the curiosity of toddlers walking with parents.
Short staffing or sickness can lead to a collection being missed, and the Borough Council confirms that this was why this particular black litter bin was full. “This was an unforeseen circumstances which ordinarily wouldn’t happen,” said a spokesperson for the Council. “The advice for anyone spotting an overflowing bin is to report a problem either via our website ( type into the search box Report a litter bin), email streetsceneservices@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk or call 01455 238141. If a litter bin is full and overflowing, dog walkers are asked either find another litter bin in the area or take the waste home and use their black household waste bin.”
When bins overflow operatives have to use litter pickers to handle individual bags. “Although staff are equipped with and the correct PPE to deal with this type of waste, over filled bins do become heavy to empty and may cause the bags to split,” added the spokesperson.
October 2015 Groby Parish Council owns a number of dog walking areas in the village where dog walking is allowed strictly subject to ensuring that owners and dog walkers pick up after their dogs and ensuring that they are kept under full control at all times:
Butler’s Field – 7.6 acres – is a “designated DOG WALKING MEADOW” off Sacheverell Way
Marina Park – 8.78 acres – located off Castell Drive and Marina Drive
Stamford Memorial Park – 8.11 acres – located off Stamford Dv and accessible through Marina Park
Cowpen Spinney – 4.4 acres – with access off Oakmeadow Way, Ratby Rd & the Mineral Line Walk
Mineral Line Walk – 2.66 acres – access off Sacheverell Way, Greys Dv, Spinney Close & Ratby Rd
Quarry Park – 13.05 acres – access off Forest Rise
Flaxfield Close – 0.69 acres
Highfield Road – 0.16 acres
Sycamore Drive – 2.0 acres
October 2015
Dog fouling on Parish Council land has been a bone of contention for years. Whilst there is now an acceptance by responsible owners that picking up after your dog is the right thing to do there is still a problem. Some owners just refuse to pick up and others pick up but then dump the bags of excrement anywhere other than a dustbin or litterbin. The red dog bins have been supplemented in recent years by a Borough Council decision to allow the bags to be put into litter bins. The frustration for the Parish Council is that even though the costs to parishioners of dealing with the waste is over £9,000 a year it still isn't resolving the problem.
The Borough Council's 'Dogwatch' campaign aims to encourage people to pick up. Clean Neighbourhood Officers have the authority to issue ‘on the spot’ Fixed Penalty Notices of £50 to dog fouling offenders if they witness the event. However they can also issue a penalty if a witness statement is provided by a member of the community. If left unpaid by the offender, this offence can then lead to prosecution and fines of up to £1000. The Borough Council has produced a 'report it' card to encourage people to come forward with information if they know of someone who does not pick up, and it is thought that the card serves as a deterrent to the culprits. Fixed penalty notices can been issued and individuals can be prosecuted for failing to pick up after their dog. “ Council officers can't be everywhere but, with the local community's help, the council has a much better chance of tackling the issue and reducing the amount of dog mess fouling public areas,” a Borough Council spokesperson said. 'Report it' cards can be picked up at the Parish Council office.
The Parish Council is to consider new ways of gathering information which could result in action taken against offenders, and have decided to look at the advantages of drones which could fly over local parks taking aerial photographs of less responsible dog owners.
A drone is essentially an unmanned aircraft, probably first developed for military use. Military drones with cameras were used as reconnaissance vehicles in the Vietnam War, with more recent versions being fitted with missiles and used in conflicts across the world. In recent years they have become a consumer item used for all sorts of purposes including filming documentaries and news reports.
Although there are only a few restrictions if the drone weighs less than 20kg they are classed as a type of aircraft, not a toy. Flying for commercial use requires the permission from the Civil Aviation Authority(CAA).
"If your drone is under 20kg and you're not using it for commercial reasons, then you still have some rules to follow. Anyone filming with a drone for their own purposes must avoid flying it within 150 metres of a congested area and 50 metres of a person, vessel, vehicle or structure not under the control of the pilot,” explains Matthew Sparkes on the Daily Telegraph website. "You will also need to fly the aircraft within sight. This means you can’t go above 400ft in altitude or further than 500 metres horizontally. If you want to exceed that, you’ll again need to seek explicit permission from the CAA." Drones cannot be used to break existing privacy laws.
At the October Parish Council meeting members agreed to research the possibility of using drones on village parks to collect high quality video of dog owners who do not pick up after their pets, and to make a decision once all the implications have been considered. It is thought that just having the capability might encourage greater compliance with the rules without imposing additional restrictions on responsible owners.
The Chairman suggested looking at the Phantom brand of drone which has a Standard model at around £600 up to a more sophisticated professional version at around £1100. The battery allows about 25 minutes of flying time.
The CAA has prosecuted two people for using drones - one who flew one over a nuclear submarine facility, and another who flew one over Alton Towers. The CAA recently launched its "Dronecode" and is now concentrating on educating people about drones. They will only prosecute in cases when there is a threat to other aviation, letting the police deal with other cases.
Another suggestion put forward at the meeting was to investigate the use of DNA testing of excrement samples to establish dog ownership. The testing technology is becoming more affordable and with estimated clean up costs of £22 million for the UK it is starting to find favour with some councils, though a DNA database of dogs has to be established for it to work.
February 2015
Litter has always been annoyance and dog fouling has always been a contentious issue, particularly when it affects pavements and park areas. There has been a change over the years with more owners picking up after their dogs, with the situation improving after the introduction of bins for owners to dispose of their bags. Last year the emptying of dog and litter bins cost the parish council nearly £9000. At the February meeting of the Parish Council members heard that some owners were picking up but then not putting the bags in the bins provided.
There followed a discussion about the issuing of fixed penalty notices to people who do not pick up after their dog and the Borough Council's 'Dogwatch' campaign which aims to encourage people to pick up. Clean Neighbourhood Officers have the authority to issue ‘on the spot’ Fixed Penalty Notices of £50 to dog fouling offenders if they witness the event. However they can also issue a penalty if a witness statement is provided by a member of the community. If left unpaid by the offender, this offence can then lead to prosecution and fines of up to £1000. The Borough Council has produced a 'report it' card to encourage people to come forward with information if they know of someone who does not pick up, and it is thought that the card serves as a deterrent to the culprits. Although members supported steps to encourage use of dog bins and discourage the leaving of bags both in public areas and resident's gardens, there were concerns that mischievous or malicious complaints may be submitted.
“ Council officers can't be everywhere but, with the local community's help, the council has a much better chance of tackling the issue and reducing the amount of dog mess fouling public areas,” a spokesperson said. “Seven fixed penalty notices have been issued since April last year and one person has been prosecuted for failing to pick up after their dog. If the fixed penalty notice is unpaid then the council will consider prosecution. All notices issued in the last year were based on information received in witness statements. Any witness statement must be accurate and truthful, and may be used in court if the fixed penalty notice becomes a prosecution. This is made very clear to anyone making such a statement. However, the witness can withdraw their statement at any time.”
August 2012
In 2010 the Parish Council was told by Leicestershire County Council that it did not wish to take advantage of an offer of a lease of land known as Beacon Field near Lady Jane Grey school. The previous lease ended in 2008 and the Council had offered a new 99 year lease at just £1 a year. In the absence of a lease the Council felt it would have to apply the normal rules relating to organised activities, with the school having to apply for a use permit, confirm their insurance cover and pay the normal charges.
Two years on and the school, which will shortly become an Academy, has expressed an interest in a new lease. Although the reason for the 2010 lease offer not being taken up was not clear members were told that there had been concerns about dog excrement and litter on the land. This summer the Parish Council has opened a public consultation on a proposed dog control order for the land and a reader has written to the Spotlight asking for it to be brought to the attention of other readers.
“As this area is primarily used by dog walkers (I have never seen a person without a dog on there) I feel that readers need to be made aware so they can voice their objections,” he wrote . “ I’m not sure when their final date for objections is (I think it’s the end of August) but I think people deserve to know so they can have the chance to make their feelings known.”
The consultation, which can be read on the council website and has also been placed in the Leicester Mercury, does run until 31st August and comments in writing can be sent for the attention of The Clerk to the Council, Parish Council Offices, Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0DQ, online using the consultation response form, or by emailing parishclerk@groby.com. Assistance dogs will be exempt.
Clear duty of care
Dog control orders tend to be controversial as responsible dog owners may feel they are being penalised by the actions of a minority, but the Parish Council believes that a dog exclusion order may be needed.
“The prime purpose of Beacon Field except for a very short period has long been as a school playing field for Lady Jane Grey School,” explained Councillor Peter Batty, Chairman of the Parks and Cemetery Committee, “consequently Groby Parish Council has not just got a moral responsibility but a clear duty of care to ensure that children using the playing field are protected from any health risk that can be associated with dog fouling. Consultation on the notification of proposals to introduce Dog Control Orders are part of the process for the introduction of these orders but ultimately the decision is one for the Parish Council to make.” He added that there are currently ample alternatives within reasonable walking distance of Beacon Field for walking dogs, provided they are kept under proper control and their owners clean up their dog's fouling.
“This consultation seeks to obtain information and opinions from local residents on the proposed order and is aimed at balancing the interests of dog owners and the rest of the public,.” explains the Council website. “At Groby Parish Council we recognise that a vast majority of dog owners act responsibly and keep their dog or dogs under control which includes clearing up after them in a public place. Unfortunately however there are a small number of inconsiderate dog owners who do not which causes many problems for the community as a whole.”
How much it could cost
Penalties for committing an offence contained in Dog Control Orders are a maximum of Level 3 on the standard scale £1,000. Alternatively Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued for these offences by Groby Parish Council’s authorised officers and may be offered in place of prosecution. Guidance has been issued by the government, stating that the level of fines that can be set for offences within a dog control order is £50 - £80, and where no fine is set by the local authority the fine is to be £75.