ENFORCEMENT officers will pay more attention to dog fouling hotspots in Monk Bretton and Royston following complaints.
Officers from Kingdom, the agency employed by the North East Area Council to tackle matters such as dog fouling, illegal parking and littering, will be deployed to areas including Warren Walk, Pinfold Lane, Bewdley Court and Oakwood Road in Royston and High Street, Monk Bretton, after more concerns were raised at the villages’ joint PACT meeting on Tuesday.
Latest figures show 147 fines were issued for littering by Kingdom, while just four were for dog fouling, leading to calls for more to be done to tackle those who fail to pick up after their pets.
PCSO Angela Pressland said: “We’ve seen several owners fail to pick up on our patrols but we are unable to issue fines. It’s horrendous on Royston’s back streets in particular but the problem remains on most of its main streets.”
Statistics for 2017 show just 29 irresponsible dog owners were issued with fines from Kingdom - 30 fewer than in 2016.
John Craig, from Royston Neighbourhood Watch, added: “I remember 15 years or so ago when people were saying the exact same thing - Royston is terrible for dog fouling.
“It stretches right across the village and we seem to be powerless to do anything about it. Oakwood fields are shocking and parents are having to pick up dog mess before their kids play football.”
Temporary Sergeant Jason Pearson told the meeting’s members that Kingdom officers will be deployed to the affected areas, while PCSO patrols will be increased around hotspot areas.
Coun Margaret Sheard, who represents the Monk Bretton ward, urged irresponsible dog owners to start clearing up after their pets.
“The issue is no different to what it was this time last year,” she said. “Some let their pets foul wherever they want and others do it in enclosed areas because they know people can’t do much about it.
“It’s not just our areas which are affected as it extends right across Barnsley. Hopefully officers’ presence will make people think twice.”
