Irresponsible dog owners are jeopardising a Belper park’s chance of receiving a Green Flag Award.
Community Officers at Amber Valley Borough Council are concerned that people are not cleaning up dog mess on the Coppice Field at Belper Park.
Councillor Jack Brown, Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Greener and Safer at Amber Valley Borough Council said, “Despite the fact that there are bins in the park for disposing of dog waste, owners are still not cleaning up after their dogs.Following the success of Crossley Park in Ripley at last year’s awards, the Council is keen to nominate Belper Park for a Green Flag Award this year, but this is in jeopardy at the moment due to the fact that the Park is littered with dog mess.The situation has now got so bad that it is threatening to spoil people’s enjoyment of the Park, and could prove to be a serious health hazard.For all these reasons we would urge those responsible to be more considerate towards other park users and start cleaning up after their dogs.”
It is the dog owner’s responsibility to clean up after their dog and to dispose of it properly in the appropriate bins provided.It is an offence to allow your dog to defecate and not clean it up.The Council’s Community Officers and Dog Wardens will take action against owners who don’t clean up after their dog by issuing on-the-spot fixed penalty notices of £80.
Free poop scoop bags are available to residents of Amber Valley from the Council’s Town Centre offices in Alfreton, Belper, Ripley and Heanor. You can approach the Community Officers or Dog Wardens in your neighbourhood for a chat about your concerns or queries.If you would like to report instances of dog fouling or would like more information about responsible dog ownership please contact the Dog Warden Service Helpline on 01773 841335.
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For further information contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, on 01773 841655.
Notes for editors:
The Green Flag Award Scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces across England and Wales.The award is managed by The Civic Trust on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and the Green Flag Advisory Board.The Award Scheme, begun in 1996, recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.Awards are given on an annual basis and applications are increasing each year.
The main law enforced by Amber Valley Borough Council covering fouling is The Dogs Fouling of Land Act 1996.This law makes it an offence to allow your dog to defecate and not clean it up.
