West Lindsey's dog clean-up rules set to be extended until 2029

Owners can be fined for leaving behind a mess in any public space, or not carrying bags to pick them up.

West Lindsey District Council says the rules deter owners from leaving a mess, although it’s had little success in prosecuting offenders.

Just one person has received a fixed penalty notice in the last three years, with another 14 issued warning letters.

Weekly patrols are also carried out in hotspots through West Lindsey catch, which the council says makes the spaces cleaner and safer.

A council report says: “Enforcing dog fouling offences continues to present several challenges, primarily due to the difficulty in directly witnessing offences and obtaining sufficient evidence to take formal action.

“Members of the public remain reluctant to report offences or provide enough evidence for formal action.”

The current rules – known as a public space protection order – have been in force since 2023.

The council’s Regulatory committee will discuss next week whether to renew them for three more years.

The extension has been supported by Lincolnshire Police’s chief constable, as well as town and parish councils.

The report adds: “The dog fouling PSPO is seen as a very effective deterrent across the district and enables the council to enact formal powers as required to deal with the issue.

“While there is still a real challenge in regard to catching individuals who are in breach of the PSPO, it is still deemed to be necessary in order to combat the issue given the impact that it has or is likely to have on the quality of life for our residents.”