MIDDLEWICH Clean Team chair Janet Chisholm has praised Cheshire East Council’s new initiative encouraging everyone to play a part in cleaning up after dogs.

The council’s ‘Dog Watch’ campaign, which was launched in Congleton and will now spread across the borough, urges dog owners to take more responsibility for their own pets’ mess while also spreading awareness.

Dog poo problems came to a head in Middlewich last year, with overflowing bins causing complaints to pile up on social media.

New dual-purpose black bins have since been phased in, replacing smaller red bins which, along with Cheshire East Council’s new initiative, has helped quell the problem.

Janet said: “We have been very active in addressing the problem over the past few years, and anything that helps further is a good thing.

“Along the canals, I do feel that the dog walkers are using the new bins.

“We have regular meetings with Cheshire East Council to discuss how we can be more effective, and we have worked very hard alongside them to highlight positions for these bins to be installed in.”

As well as installing new bins and launching the Dog Watch scheme, Janet says that Cheshire East Council have been effective at responding to overflowing bins and urged residents to report them.

“If people see an overflowing bin they can contact Cheshire East Council and it will be emptied very rapidly,” she said.

“If the council are not aware they can’t do anything about it.”

Councillor Paul Bates, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for communities and health, said: “We have a minority of irresponsible owners who are discrediting the reputation of the majority.

“We share the frustrations of responsible dog owners and those affected by such irresponsible behaviour, and will be tough on those who fail to clean up after their dog.”

The punishment for failing to clean up after pets is a fixed penalty of £50, plus possibly higher fines in court.

Middlewich Clean Team, which has around 200 members, also tackles regular litter picks. For more information, contact Janet on 01606 836263 or visit middlewichcleanteam.blogspot.co.uk.