Campaign set to tackle dog-fouling in part of Bradford

Days of action could be on the cards as complaints about the blight continue to rise in Queensbury.

Ward councillor Paul Cromie said: "We have to do something, the problem is getting worse and worse."

Coun Cromie himself was embroiled in an incident last week when a teenager walked off after letting one of his three dogs foul a playing field near Moor Close Avenue.

He asked the youngster to pick up the mess, but the boy "shook his head in disbelief", said the councillor.

Coun Cromie alerted local PCSO John Greenwood and the officer interviewed the teenager, who provided his details.

"But I later got a phone call from the lad's mother, screaming and ranting that I had threatened her son. I put the phone down on her," said Coun Cromie, "as I was within my rights to ask the boy to pick up the dog dirt."

PCSO Greenwood spoke to the woman, who said they would pick up the mess.

"The next time I checked, this had been done," said Coun Cromie.

Coun Cromie has also been contacted by a resident of Naseby Rise who complains there is 'dog littering everywhere'.

"It is on pavements and other places," said the resident, pleading for council action to address the problem. "It is causing a big issue for the community," he said.

Coun Cromie said: "We have a major dog fouling issue in Queensbury and have spent thousands of pounds on prevention mostly to no avail. The problem is not with the dogs but the lazy owners who don't pick it up."

The issue has been raised with the Queensbury ward partnership and Coun Cromie has asked Bradford Council to monitor the situation.

A spokesman for the ward partnership said: "Dog-fouling has always been high on our agenda but we are getting more and more calls on the matter.

"We need a high-level campaign to show residents we are taking the issue seriously."

It is hoped to get a campaign under way before the end of March and ideas for action include posters and joint patrols with schools.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "Please report if you have witnessed a specific incident of dog fouling, and you know the name and address of the owner and are willing to make a statement. Visit www.bradford.gov.uk to report this."