Swanage Town Council report increase in unpicked dog poo

Those are the words of a grounds supervisor for Swanage Town Council amid a “steep increase” in the amount of dog poo left across the coastal town.

The local authority is now looking at deploying temporary signage in ‘hotspot’ areas to remind people to pick up after their pets, after it reported more than 20 occasions since July last year where grounds team members have “hit dog poo with machinery” – forcing them to “stop work to shower, wash, change their clothing, and clean down their equipment”.

This statistic was described as “extremely unpleasant” by the council who highlighted health hazards, such as the risk of toxocariasis, as reasons for concern.

Read more: Dog mess alley: Mum calls for people to stop dog fouling on the school route

Steve Diffey, the council's assistant grounds maintenance supervisor, said: “It’s horrible for the lads when they hit dog poo when strimming. We check areas before we start working but you do sometimes miss it.

"It’s very disheartening when this happens as we are all trying our best to do a good job and keep Swanage clean and tidy for everyone.”

Swanage Town Council provides more than 60 waste bins in the town, both for dog waste and general rubbish. Bagged dog poo can be placed in all of these.

This number is in addition to the waste bins provided by Dorset Council. However, despite the number of bins, it is reported that on many occasions dog poo has been found within a few of metres of a bin.

Read more: Plea with dog owners after cows abort babies due to disease picked up in poo

On New Year’s Day in 2021, Dorset Council introduced a Public Space Protection Order with a regulation which stated that owners are to pick up their dog's poo in all public spaces and dispose of it appropriately. There is a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 for failure to comply with the order.

Dog waste bin

A Swanage Town Council spokesperson said: “Disappointingly over the past year Swanage has experienced a steep increase in the amount of dog poo on its footpaths and green spaces. Dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets may not be aware of the significant impact this has on the work of the council’s grounds maintenance team when they are strimming and cutting grass.

“The council works closely with local volunteer groups, Swanage Landers who deal with littering in the parish, and Beach Buddies who litter pick the beach and sea front. Both groups have also noticed an increase in the amount of this type of waste (bagged and unbagged) on the promenade, pavements and beach.”

Visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/dog-warden-service#fouling to report dog fouling.