FORGET crime and antisocial behaviour!
Dog fouling is the number one concern of residents on the East Marsh, according to a ward councillor who has welcomed the council's zero-tolerance approach to the problem.
Last year Councillor Steve Beasant handed out surveys to all households in the ward.
And of the 900 responses he received, 600 said dog owners not cleaning up after their pets was a massive issue.
As such, he is backing the Grimsby Telegraph's Poo-lution campaign.
Launched last week, the campaign will be encouraging responsible dog ownership by highlighting the dangers posed by dog mess and offering advice on how to look after your pet.
And Mr Beasant said: "It is a major problem. When you look at the East Marsh, people say that crime is the number one issue but residents were telling me that dog fouling was the number one issue.
"There are a whole host of diseases that dog fouling can cause, so in my opinion we need to take strong action on this issue.
"In the past I have been highly critical of the council for not taking strong action, but I will applaud them when I see someone being fined for dog fouling.
"People find it disgusting when they have got to walk through streets such as Rutland Street and Stanley Street which are being used as a dog toilet. It is totally and utterly wrong."
Mr Beasant revealed that a Community First bid had been submitted to provide free dog fouling bags to the public at Grant Thorold Library, meaning that there would be "no excuses" for people not cleaning up after their dogs.
One of the areas in the ward most blighted by dog fouling is Grant Thorold Park.
Linda Smith, 53, of Dugard Road, said the prevalence of dog fouling in the park ruins what would otherwise be the perfect spot for a picnic.
She said: "It's disgusting. The council should be clamping down. It's not nice if the kids are playing and they end up covered in it."
She said she had witnessed dog owners failing to clean up after their pets, but chose not to challenge them for fear of a backlash, adding: "Some people are just not bothered."
Don Jennings, 83, of Thomas Street, regularly takes his Jack Russell Fifi for a walk in the park.
He said: "Most of the people who bring dogs clean it up but you do get the odd one who doesn't. It's very annoying. It's just ignorant. They know what they should do.
I think of the kids playing in the park. They don't want to get dog mess all over them."
