RESIDENTS of Malvern Hills are backing plans by the district council to get dog owners to clean up their act.

The council has completed a six-week consultation on plans for a Public Space Protection Order which would introduce three new offences.

They are: failing to carry a poop bag or other means to clean up after a dog; failure to keep a dog on a lead in a designated area; and failure to keep a dog out of fenced-off or enclosed children’s playgrounds.

Anyone committing one of the new offences would be given a fixed penalty notice of up to £100, with a £1,000 court fine if they fail to pay.

More than 550 people took part in the consultation, 63 per cent of whom were dog owners.

82 per cent backed making it illegal to not carry a poop bag or another means to clean up after a pet. There was also overwhelming support for making it an offence to keep a dog on a lead in certain places (82 per cent) and failing to stop dogs entering an enclosed children’s playground (88 per cent).

Most people felt it would be most appropriate for it to be a requirement for dogs to be kept on leads in parks, playgrounds, around schools and on pavements near roads.

50 per cent of people felt if people could not prove they were prepared to pick up after their dog then they should be given a fixed penalty notice, while 34 per cent felt they should be sent on an awareness course.

Some residents wanted to see the introduction of an offence for leaving bags of dog mess in the branches of trees or on pavements.

A report has now been prepared for an executive committee meeting on Tuesday, April 25. The powers are already being used successfully in some parts of the country but if approved, Malvern Hills will be the first place in Worcestershire to introduce them.

If approved, the order would run for three years and then be reviewed. Guide dogs and people who are physically unable to comply with the requirements of the order will be exempt from the new rule.

Cllr Bronwen Behan, the council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: “We know dog fouling is an issue of concern to our residents, including amongst dog owners, and the responses to the consultation show there is very clear support for the proposal.

“We will always aim to educate people first and encourage them to change their behaviour before issuing fixed penalty notices, but introducing these new powers would support our officers in tackling this issue, whilst sending a clear signal to irresponsible dog owners that it’s time they cleaned up their act.”