Dog fouling fears raised after demise of wardens
Concerns over dog fowling in Shawpark Cemetery, Selkirk.
THE loss of community wardens will see the problem of dog fouling in Selkirk get worse.
That was the view of Shawpark Crescent resident Cath Henderson who told Selkirk Community Council that she had found dog dirt within Shawfield Cemetery.
Mrs Henderson made her point just four days after Scottish Borders Council decided to scrap wardens in its five-year budget plans, bringing savings of more than £1million.
Mrs Henderson said: “There are a lot of dogs walked in darkness in there, so what chance is there of catching them?
“I can now see the problem getting worse.
“Along Shawpark Road, the wardens came in and it definitely improved. But the problem has deteriorated considerably since then.
“The final straw came with the cemetery discovery.”
Selkirk CC chairman Graham Easton said he believed SBC’s decision to rid the region of wardens was a mistake, adding: “They are effective as a deterrent but have not been strong enough (in numbers).”
Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar said neighbourhood services would be taking on the role of monitoring dog fouling from April 1, with the warden team obsolete by 2014/15.
He added: “There was supposed to be 12 in the team but we have only had eight. We had so few wardens that is wasn’t effective across the region.
“We are hoping this move will lead to a better service.”
Community Councillor Jim Gibson said the public needed to be educated – and scared – into disposing of their pet’s dirt by proper means.
Mr Gibson said: “If you go to Fairfield (Drive) you find bags of dog dirt thrown over the wall.”
However, Wilma Gunn believed there are not enough red buckets across the town for dog owners to scoop the poop into.
There are eight wardens employed across the Borders, costing £264,000 a year.
Two currently cover Selkirk and the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys, as well as Hawick, Newcastleton and Bonchester.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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