Date: 27/10/2009
Enforcement staff from High Peak Borough Council, were joined by two of their colleagues from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to carry out early morning patrols in Chapel-en-le-frith and Whaley Bridge.
The teams targeted areas that have historically had a dog-fouling problem to ensure that dog owners are acting responsibly and clearing up after their pets.
The dog fouling issue escalates in the winter months as the darker nights mean owners who do not clean up after their dogs are less conspicuous. With this in mind the plain clothes enforcement teams started at 6am equipped with torches to watch the early morning dog walkers around Warmbrook School, South Head Drive, Goyt Road and Bings Road.
John Haken, Executive Councillor for the Environment said: "The message regarding enforcement appears to be getting through as despite the areas being well used by dog walkers, all owners cleared up any mess left by their pet.
"I understand that the officers spoke to several of the owners to thank them for acting responsibly by cleaning up their dog's waste and used the opportunity to ask them for any information to help the team tackle the less responsible dog owners."
Similar patrols will take place throughout the rest of the Borough later on in the year and in early 2010.