Dogs remain an obstacle to clean Edinburgh st, Domestic Cleaning

Dogs remain an obstacle to clean Edinburgh st - 22/07/2008

"Lazy" dog owners are continuing to make the lives of street cleaners in Edinburgh difficult, it has been revealed.

This is despite statistical improvements - the number of fixed penalty notices handed out for unauthorised street-side dog stools has nearly halved over the last two years to 144.

However, according to Joan Turner, chairwoman of the Royston and Wardieburn Community Council, there is still room for improvement.

She told the Scotsman: "We routinely carry out a survey of what people think is wrong with the area and it still comes up as number one.

"I've noticed a difference on the main roads, but when you get into the housing schemes it is as bad as ever. It is difficult to walk along the pavement in certain areas."

Councils were granted powers to impose on the spot fines for dog owners that failed to clear up their dog's mess in April 2004.

However, some Scottish councils were notoriously slow on the uptake, reports the BBC.

Authorities are concerned that although some dog owners have adopted the habit of putting their dog's mess into plastic bags, many never reach a bin and are left on the street instead.

However, this is still likely to be preferred by street cleaners used to whipping up unpackaged dog mess on a regular basis.