Village free to curb dog menace

Further to the dog fouling menace on the village playing fields, Cheshire East Council has confirmed that the parish is free to apply for Dog Control Orders.

A recent Parish Council meeting heard that signs to curb dog walking could be erected on the playing field but that penalties for infringement could not be enforced as the former Borough of Crewe & Nantwich had failed to take out Dog Control Orders when it had the opportunity to do so.

It was thought that dog owners would be free to ignore signs to keep dogs pets on leads when crossing the playing fields.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman has confirmed that the former Borough of Crewe & Nantwich did not have a Dog Control Order for dogs on leads.

But he added that Audlem Parish Council could, if they wish, apply for Dog Control Orders. "All the information on making a Dog Control Order can be found on the Defra website," he added.

And he warned that permission to erect signs, depending where the proposed sites are, would have to be granted by Cheshire East Council, Greenspace or Highways Departments.

Cheshire East still issues Fixed Penalties for dog fouling under section 3-Dog (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.

According to the Defra website, breach of a Dog Control Order can attract a maximum fine of £1,000 and a Dog Control Order can be made on any land which is open to the air and to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment).

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