The District Councillor Darrell Pulk, hosted a visit by Bassetlaw Environmental Enforcement Officers today (image above) to see at first hand the extent of the dog fouling in and around Sutton. Environmental Enforcement in Bassetlaw and in particular the targeting of individuals who deliberately drop litter or fail to pick up after their dogs is undertaken by Bassetlaw District Council’s enforcement partnership company, Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Limited (WISE). WISE operate patrols across the District and are empowered to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to errant individuals. The visit took in the walk from the church around to Mire Lane and this together with the other walks around Sutton will now feature in the patrols undertaken by the Officers.
Just as a reminder dog owners are expected to carry a reasonable number of poo bags with them whilst out walking with their animals, a minimum of three bags is the norm. WISE might engage dog walkers to encourage them to carry a good supply of bags. However no such encouragement or warnings will be issued to owners who fail to pick up. It is an on the spot fine. Whilst you might think that catching owners/animals in the act is unlikely there were around 90 notices issued in the first 18 months of WISE’s tenure.
Please pick up after your animals and if you see WISE on patrol why not have a friendly word with them, they are working hard to keep Sutton’s footpaths free of poo and free of the diseases that can spread from it.
Pick Up or Pay Up (in verse & photo)
Spring is Sprung,
The grass is riz
And this is where the dog poo is
Alongside the church walk of Mary Dunn
Where snowdrops strive to greet the sun
Some largish deposits, a hefty beast
Whose Owners might forfeit £100 at least.
Take note errant owners for walks they have eyes
You’d better bag it and bin it than otherWISE.
Words: Edgar Alan Poo, image below from the Church walk.