LEDBURY residents have responded positively to news that Herefordshire Council has launched a crackdown on dog fouling, even though fine details are still to be announced as to when the major campaign will reach the market town.

The Bag It, Bin It, campaign was launched in Hereford this week, with the promise that the rest of the county will be included "in the coming weeks".

More enforcement officers will be seen out and about; new signage will be installed and dog owners failing to clean up after their pets could face a Dog Control Order with an £80 fixed penalty notice, or a maximum fine of £1,000.

Ledbury people, concerned by the high levels of dog fouling in their town, are already highlighting problems in need of attention.

A new online page is now active, so residents can report incidents of dog fouling in Ledbury, even before the campaign is officially rolled out here, at: https://myaccount.herefordshire.gov.uk/report-dog-poo

And there are likely to be a large number of complaints.

Posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, resident Leslie Dalley said: "When it's quiet I sometimes use Ledbury Town Trail, Ledbury Woods and the like for my race training on my mountain bike.

"It is quite a problem for me as very often I can not avoid riding through the mess. The area by the Leadon River, and also the entrance to the Conigree up the Worcester Road are particularly bad. I've witnessed people pull up in their car, start walking, then let their dog off the lead, and then pretend that they don't know that it's doing its business by looking the other way. Many people do pick up, but a lot can't be bothered and I've had to politely talk to some to try an educate them. I usually get abuse, and owners get very defensive but it's not nice when what the dog has done flicks up off the front wheel in your face, or gets stuck into the treads of your tyres.

"It's dreadful stuff to clean off your bike and it smells disgusting."

Terry Wilkins said: " I don't think owners should be encouraged to pick it up; they should be ordered to pick it up, and fined heavily if they fail to do so."

Local mum, Simone Pedlingham said she thought the situation was slightly improving in Ledbury this summer, but she added: "Roll on cracking down! I'd like to be able to take my daughter for walks without having to keep her on her reins in case she runs into grass and gets covered in dog mess! Or all over the pram and therefore the carpets in the house.

"It only takes a second for a toddler to put something in their mouth, even when they're being watched like a hawk."

But other residents pointed to insufficient bins for dog waste.

Justine Clayton said: "More bins around places people walk their dogs would be helpful, and of course, the regular emptying of bins."

But she added: "People should be fined double for bagging it and leaving it either in grass or thrown in hedges."

The new Herefordshire Council campaign has the aim of "encouraging owners to pick up after their dogs", but it comes with teeth.

A council spokesman said: "A new Public Space Protection Order for dog control came into effect in March 2018. Council enforcement officers will travel to locations throughout the county taking action against the minority of dog owners who do not keep their dogs under control or clean up after their pets.

The campaign also include new signage, which has been designed by pupils of Holmer School.

Cllr Barry Durkin, cabinet member for transport and regulatory services, encouraged people to use to new online link to report problems with dog fouling.

He said: "By providing details such as descriptions and locations, people can help us target enforcement appropriately, targeting problem areas and eliminating as much dog mess as possible from our streets, lanes and green spaces.”