PERSISTENT problems with dog fouling and nuisance hounds could be a thing of the past if a series of measures is brought in across Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council is consulting on different ways it can implement Dog Control Orders across the town and parishes.

The orders are part of the new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

Representatives from parishes across the borough have welcomed the move.

At a recent meeting of the Darlington Association of Parish Councils and Parish Meetings, delegates heard a presentation from John Herdman, who runs the council’s environment crime enforcement team.

Mr Herdman explained how there were five possible offences which could be brought into a Dog Control Order.

● Failing to remove dog faeces.

● Not putting a dog onto a lead when asked to do so by an authorised officer.

● Not keeping a dog on a lead.

● Permitting a dog to enter a land where dogs are not permitted.

● Taking more than a specified number of dogs onto land.

Mr Herdman said the council was unlikely to implement an order controlling the last offence.

The first two offences he would seek to implement right across the borough.

The third and fourth offences would only apply to certain places.

He asked the parish representatives to tell him which areas in their villages they would like to have an order insisting upon dogs on leads.

These could include village greens, parks and playing fields.

Any area which wanted a complete dog ban would need to be completely enclosed such as a children’s play area or school field, he said. Anyone found breaching these orders could be given a fixed penalty fine.

To help enforce the orders, three more dogs wardens were being employed by the council.

Mr Herdman said: “This will not impact on dog walkers who are responsible people. They can still go about their day-to-day business as freely as possible.

“I can say hand on heart that everything they do will not change.

“It’s not restricting people’s activities, it’s to try and deal with a small minority of people who aren’t responsible.”

The chairman of the association, Councillor Brian Jones, said: “It’s good news that you will be getting some support. I’m not aware of a single parish that doesn’t have a problem with dog fouling.

“If Dog Control Orders will go some way towards improving that situation, I’m sure all parish members will be delighted.”