THE dirty dogs could have had their day.
Dog-owners look set to face tough new controls on their pets in Huddersfield.
They will be banned completely from children’s play areas and school fields.
And they will be only allowed in parks with dogs if the animals are on leads.
The new crackdown is set to be given the go-ahead by Kirklees councillors next week.
And they will also be asked to approve plans to give powers to 400 council staff to issue penalty notices for people flouting the ban and for dog fouling.
It is a massive problem across the area. Last year, the council had 2,188 complaints about dog fouling – an average of 42 every week.
Earlier this month, parents at several Huddersfield schools including Golcar complained about the state of paths and pavements around the school.
A council spokesman said: “Within Kirklees, dog fouling and other dog-related issues are high amongst the concerns raised in resident surveys and is seen as a key issue people wish to see tackled.
“There were 2,188 complaints about fouling last year, and 2,042 the previous year, as well as 977 dangerous dog complaints.
“We have consulted with 192 schools about what orders they want in their grounds and have got the go-ahead from four out of five parish councils we have consulted.”
Dog-owners who flout the law are likely to be given £75 penalty fines, which would be reduced to £50 if paid within seven days.
But those who ignore the penalty fines could be taken to court – and end up with a £1,000 fine.
The new campaign has four key issues:
Making it an offence not to clear dog mess in all areas of Kirklees other than moorland and farmland
Keeping dogs on leads at all times on roads, car parks, playing fields, allotments and cemeteries
Keeping dogs on leads in the five principal parks – Greenhead, Ravensknowle and Beaumont in Huddersfield, Wilton in Batley and Crow Nest, Dewsbury
A total ban on dogs on play areas and school grounds.
Clr David Sheard, cabinet member for streetscene and housing, said: “We absolutely acknowledge that most dog owners are responsible, clean up after their animals and don’t allow them to be a nuisance to other people.
“At the same time, and despite the council’s efforts to encourage responsible dog ownership, from 2009 to 2011 we had an average of almost 60 complaints every week about the irresponsible few.
“We believe it is time for stronger action and the Dog Control Orders would allow us to enforce the rules more effectively so that communities across Kirklees felt the benefits.
“The majority of dog owners will have nothing whatsoever to worry about. Our aim is to tackle the irresponsible minority who think it’s acceptable, for example, to allow their dog into an area where small children are playing or to have their dog off the lead in an inappropriate place.
“In addition, dog fouling is extremely anti-social and unpleasant and it’s well known that leaving behind excrement is a major health hazard.
“If cabinet agree, we will seek widespread opinions from local communities about the proposal to introduce these tighter rules.
Councillors meeting on January 31 will be asked to approve Dog Control orders covering all those areas.
They will also be asked to extend powers to council workers such as park rangers, environmental health staff, parking wardens, planning officers and the existing dog wardens.
Police community support officers will also be asked to back the initiative.
The cabinet is expected to back the plans and seek public views before bringing in the control orders.
