Dog owners face higher fines

Assembly members have cried foul over pavement mess and have agreed to plans to treble fines from �25 to �75.

It will also allow mean councils can keep the proceeds from the fines and reinvest in more dog wardens.

Previously the cash went to the Treasury.

The measures - part of Labour's attempts to reduce anti-social behaviour - were supported by AMs when unveiled by Environment Minister Carwyn Jones.

He has warned that tourists could be put off visiting Wales if pavements and roadsides were not kept clean.

'Act responsibly'

He said: "People need to realise that dog-fouling and fly-tipping also have an economic impact in terms of attracting inward investment and tourism.

"Few people and businesses are going to be attracted to visit or invest in places covered in litter and dog mess."

DOG FOULING FINES 393 owners caught in 2003 141 owners caught in 2002

Tegryn Jones, director of Keep Wales Tidy, said dog fouling was an unpleasant problem and now dog owners needed to be aware that they faced tougher action.

He said: "What's important with any fine is that it acts as a deterrent and then it needs to be implemented.

"I've got a dog myself and when I walk it I make sure I clean up after it. It doesn't take very much effort at all to act responsibly."

Already, more dog owners are being caught by the �25 fixed penalties. Latest figures show 393 pet owners were fined last year in Wales - up from just 141 in 2002.

Swansea council. which welcomed the move, has already issued 100 fixed penalty notices to dog owners in recent years.

It has also installed 360 special dog fouling bins as well as 900 signs across the city.

A council spokesman said: "This is in addition to an education campaign to drive home the message that dog owners have the responsibility to clean-up after their pets and keep Swansea free from dog mess."

The authority, which spends �2.5m in total each year on street cleaning, is also looking closely at the issue of litter and is considering on-the-spot fines in the future.

Mr Jones, welcoming the new regulations, said they could only benefit communities.