A MAYOR has criticised the district council for doing the "absolute minimum" in taking action against dog fouling.

Figures reveal that during the last five years, West Dorset District Council has issued a total of five fixed penalty notices (FPN) for dog fouling across the district, with not a single fine issued in Lyme Regis, Bridport or Beaminster.

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell, said: "It is disappointing that West Dorset District Council has never had the inclination or the will to pursue penalty notices for persistent dog fouling, and it does not therefore surprise me that only five tickets have been issued.

"They do the absolute minimum that they have to do to comply with their statutory duty. That is why Lyme Regis employs its own enforcement officers. However, even here there is a lack of will by West Dorset District Council to pursue offenders ticketed by Lyme Regis enforcement officers.

"In Lyme Regis, we see enforcement as the last resort - however, we would love to see positive support from West Dorset District Council in addressing this issue."

Lyme Regis Town Council has applied for the Charmouth Road cemetery to benefit from a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) by the district council after Cllr Lovell said dog owners were 'treating the cemetery like a latrine' and labelled some dog owners as 'absolutely disgusting'

A district councillor believes that "limited resources" have an impact on enforcement against "thoughtless individuals".

Cllr Alan Thacker, West Dorset District Council’s executive portfolio holder for community safety and access, said: “We have limited resources with only two full-time dog wardens, one part-time dog warden and a part-time enforcement officer covering West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland.

"Our officers carry out many duties, not just dog fouling.

"We are aware that fouling takes place in certain areas, often because the occurrence is late at night or early in the morning when apprehension of offenders is much more difficult. However, there has been a notable increase in the last few years of dog owners acting responsibly and picking up after their dogs."

He added: “This trend is expected to continue as not picking up becomes more socially unacceptable. Nevertheless, thoughtless individuals will continue to let their dogs foul on the streets and recreational areas even with the use of formal enforcement methods.

“We ask that both residents and visitors take pride in the area, and be responsible owners by picking up after their dogs.

“Success in dealing with dog fouling is not measured by the number of prosecutions taken or Fixed Penalty Notices served, but by the overall reduction of dog fouling in the community.”

Residents can report owners that do not clear up after their dogs on 01305 251010 or by visiting dorsetforyou.gov.uk/dog-fouling