Our local Focus residents' surveys tell us that the majority of dog owners are responsible people.  But too many are still reporting dog poop on pavements and are calling for a further crack-down by our council.

At present there is no separate or prioritised local `dog poop' pick-up provision as currently residents must wait until the scheduled day of their regular street sweep before it is removed.

The council has a public duty of care to undertake investigation of any reported offending dog owners, under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Act (fixed penalty- £80) who allow their dogs to foul on the public pavements. However, residents are being asked to hold their noses on all public health risks, especially parents with small children, whilst the excrement remains on any public pavement or place.This could amount to days and weeks in some roads and streets. 

Let us remember the commendable and public spirited `Waltham Forest 4 Dogs' volunteers, whom sought to represent and promote responsible dog owning control and in response to their beliefs, in August 2013, removed unprecedented amounts of dog poop in plastic bags from many local public parks : that prompted the council to carry out a public consultation on public dog leashing as a result of public appeals.

Waltham Forest 4 Dogs in one month in 2013 collected a very significant number of dog poop plastic bags - all detrimental to the daily public heath of our residents. Is it time for the council to take stock of our local residents and their fears on the dog poop public health menace and set up a mobile dog poop collecting team and challenge errant dog owners more rigorously with enforcement process on the minority of irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to pollute the pavements and parks?

Patrick C Smith, Higham Hill, Liberal Democrat Focus