Cabinet votes to make dog-fouling Orders

Cllr Chris Starnes told cabinet colleagues: "I am delighted that the cabinet are about to adopt this. Dog-fouling on the promenades last year was increasing. More frighteningly, it is now appearing on the beaches."

But he asked, would the new Orders be enforced?

Richard Parker-Harding, head of environmental health, said enforcement would be made a high priority when the Orders came into force.

The Orders replace out-dated by-laws. The cabinet decided to press ahead with the anti-fouling aspect when other parts of the council's proposed series of Orders ran into opposition during public consultation.

The anti-fouling legislation will cover any highway, footway, footpath, twitten, promenade, steps or towpath within Rother plus all pedestrianised areas, all parks, gardens, recreation and sports grounds. commons, amenity areas, cemetery or churchyard, public car park or parking space and all beaches and dunes.

Anyone in charge of a dog who fails to clear up after it will be guilty of an offence. Exceptions include the blind or those with a disability which prevents them from clearing the mess.