'Named and shamed'

Under the authority's clean-up initiative, Operation Red Card, persistent offenders who are taken to court will be made an example of to deter others.

This proposed action has been supported by members of the public questioned as part of a review of the problem by a working group of councillors from the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

In a report to the committee, which met last night, it was revealed that the public wanted a zero tolerance approach to the issue, including creating dog-free areas in the borough's parks, targeting fouling hot spots and installing more bins for dog mess.

The working group has made recommendations on how to reduce the problem of dog fouling in Burnley, which will go before the council's Executive Committee.

Members of the group want the council to employ a full-time dedicated dog fouling enforcement officer, which they suggest could be funded through money collected in fines from fixed penalty notices.

In the recommendations the group supported the public's view that repeat offenders should be named and shamed and suggested that the council should give pet owners the clear message that it was their responsibility to clean up after their dog.

The review also highlighted the disturbing problem of youths using dog mess deposited in existing dog bins as a missile.

The group recommended that 15 more secure bins in hot spot areas be considered by the Executive as a matter of urgency to prevent this anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Tony Lambert, who is a member of the Environment Scrutiny Committee and is also on the working group on dog fouling, said: "We believe in zero tolerance on this issue. It is disgusting that people do not clean up after their dog and we should get on top of the problem.

"We are hoping that the Executive Committee gives 100 per cent backing to our recommendations."

"It is a matter of educating people. It doesn't take much effort to scoop up after you dog."