Fewer than 30 dog poo fines have been issued in Bolton since 2021, data has shown. According to the council’s website, those failing to pick up their dog’s poo can be prosecuted at the magistrates court and fined up to £1,000. Residents have submitted a total of 1,107 complaints around dog poo in the borough since 2021 – with the number creeping up year-on-year, an Environmental Information Regulations request has shown.
This year, 167 complaints had already been received by the council by May 13. At this rate, the number of complaints would be at more than 400 by the end of the year – far higher than the 265 received in 2021. It is a problem which has not gone unnoticed.
In March, Astley Bridge children entered a competition to design posters urging people to pick up their poochs' mess. Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox. Despite community efforts, however, fines have not been forthcoming.
Since 2021, just 23 fines have been issued in the entirety of the borough, at a value of £2,010 – or around £1.81 per complaint: far lower than the £1,000 maximum threatened. ‘It’s disappointing that it’s so low’ Last month, in Prestolee, Bolton’s dog warden applied stencils warning people to pick up their dog’s poo after a number of complaints, flanked by Cllr Tracey Wilkinson.
The Farnworth and Kearsley First councillor was disappointed by the low number of fines. Cllr Wilkinson said: “Having a low number of fines,.