It is most unfortunate that Councillor David Paterson had the deeply unpleasant experience of treading in dog mess recently in Newtown St Boswells.
TheSouthern's readers will be aware that Scottish Borders Council is running a campaign to try and end this nuisance.
Councillor Paterson has my full sympathy, but I must take issue with his remark that "... the message does not seem to have regis
tered in Newtown".
In fact, we in Newtown are doing all we can to support the campaign. Dog fouling is often reported to the community council and is an issue that upsets people just as much here as in Hawick and no doubt everywhere else.
Newtown and Eildon Community Council has requested additional dog-mess bins, but these have not as yet been provided by Scottish Borders Council. We have asked for the council dog wardens to patrol in Newtown, but that has not to my knowledge happened so far.
We have been given posters telling dog owners that they must clear up after their pet and these are posted prominently in the village – but posters alone are not the answer. I am sure that most dog owners are well aware of the by-law, but some choose to ignore their responsibilities.
So please, Councillor Paterson, until the message gets through to the irresponsible minority of dog owners, can we have some dog warden patrols and some high-profile enforcement here in Newtown?
Raymond du Bois
(secretary, Newtown and Eildon Community Council)
The full article contains 251 words and appears in Southern Reporter newspaper.
