TOUGH action is to be taken against dumpers and litter louts in a determined bid to clean up the streets of Burnley.

And Burnley will become one of the first areas in the country to take advantage of new legislation to deal with the offensive problem of dog fouling.

Officers are to be given powers to deal with situations ranging from abandoned shopping trolleys to issuing street litter control notices on premises including food shops, takeaways, service stations, places of entertainment.

They will also target banks or building societies where litter is created through the use of "hole in the wall" machines.

Failure by such places to act on a court order could result in a fine of up to £2,500.

Officers were given power to act under eight separate legal sections not previously authorised.

Members of the Public Protection Committee also instructed officers to take the necessary action in preparation for the introduction of The Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act, 1996. The new regulations will extend the action local authorities can take against the owners of dogs which foul land including fixed penalty ticket fines.

Burnley, which was famous for banning dogs from some parks, now intends that the new stricter regulations should apply to all carriageways (including grass verges and paths) with a speed limit of 40mph or less and areas of land and public parks where dogs are not already banned.

Enforcement of the regulations will be by the dog wardens and Park Rangers.

Welcoming the stricter laws, Coun Marcus Johnstone, commented: "People are fed up at having to move dog fouling from outside their homes. There is a minority of irresponsible dog owners whose attitudes need to be changed.''

In the street clean-up campaign, the council is also serving more default notices on on the contractors who carry out waste collection and street cleaning.

They have also set up a Hot Line. Tel. 437777 to make it easier for people to register a complaint or a request.

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