Dog owners in Melksham are being encouraged to dispose of dog mess responsibly, using any council-owned bin, following residents’ reports of an increase in dog fouling across the town.
Concerns have been raised about dog mess on walking routes near local schools, with residents highlighting the inconvenience and potential health risks.
One resident said, “I walk my children to school, and there is dog mess on the pathways. It’s becoming harder to avoid, and I’m constantly watching where my children are stepping. It’s unpleasant and poses health risks if people come into contact with it.”
Under UK law, dog owners can face fines of up to £1,000 for failing to clear up after their pets. Wiltshire Council has confirmed that any council-owned bin can be used for the disposal of dog waste.
Local resident and dog owner Gary Fossey has taken steps to raise awareness, purchasing stickers with his own money to highlight that council-owned bins are suitable for dog waste disposal.
Gary said, “I am a dog owner and it can be annoying when you go somewhere and your dog leaves a mess but you need to live with that and take the necessary approach. Obviously, it’s a lot easier if you know you can put it in any council litter bin.”
The issue of dog fouling in Melksham has been a long-standing concern. Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham East, Cllr Mike Sankey, advised residents to act responsibly if no bins are available.
“My message to residents would be that if they have [dog waste] and litter to dispose of, and there are no bins available or the available ones are full, then please take your litter home and dispose of it in your household bins provided by Wiltshire Council,” Cllr Sankey said. “That is the responsible thing to do.”
“If anyone feels strongly that additional bins are required, then please take this up with your local members of Melksham Town Council. The town council receives CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) from all developers. The town council is able to use this funding as they see fit, and additional bins (and the emptying of them) are a legitimate use of this funding.”
In recent years, Melksham Town Council has run initiatives to address dog fouling, including campaigns involving local schoolchildren to design signs and posters encouraging owners to clean up after their pets.
Melksham News reached out to the town council to learn more about the effectiveness of these schemes and whether further initiatives are planned, but the council has not provided a response.
