One of the problems routinely flagged up by local residents that affects people’s quality of life is the issue of dog fouling. The Lib Dem/Tory Cabinet have made the dog fouling enforcement team permanent allocated £120,000 towards it.

These enforcement officers don’t just deal with dogs, but also flytipping, graffiti, criminal damage and other problems that affect our communities. Under the previous Labour administration only one person on the whole of Wirral was fined for dog fouling.

The patrols will concentrate on problem areas flagged up by members of the public. Those found not clearing up after their dogs will be issued with a £50 fine. If the fine is not paid, the owner will be taken to court. Last month an irresponsible dog owner after not paying a fine was taken to court, fined £525, ordered to pay Wirral Council’s legal costs of £206.70 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Former councillor Gill Gardiner (Cabinet Member with responsibility for dog fouling and litter enforcement) said: “It is the duty of every dog owner to clean up after their pet. Bags of dog dirt should be disposed of correctly in a litter bin or, suitably wrapped, in domestic refuse bins. Dumping the bag in a hedge or elsewhere is littering and carries a penalty of £75. There are no excuses, it is unacceptable and it is unfair that the whole community should suffer the consequences.”

Cllr Stuart Kelly, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Oxton has since been appointed Cabinet Member in Gill Gardiner’s place. If people have any information about offenders, want to highlight a problem area, or need to report vandalism of litter bins, they are urged to contact the Streetscene call centre on 0151 606 2004 or get in touch with their local Liberal Democrat Action Team on 0151 512 2500.