CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG!

The following letter was sent to Derby City Council’s Streetcare department by one of our concerned parents:-
“I'm writing to request that the 'clean up after your dog' signs are re-painted on the Flatts paths near Chellaston Infant and Junior schools. These were painted there whilst my son was at the infant school (probably around 2003) however when the path was widened and re-surfaced in the summer of 2005, they were never re-done. At the time when the signs were painted there, dog mess around the schools had been a particularly bad problem and it significantly improved once the signs were there.

In recent weeks the amount of dog mess there has been increasing. It is bad enough that we have to dodge it all when walking down Maple Drive (where signs would also be useful), but at least it isn't so busy there. The Flatts paths are very crowded during school run times so it is often impossible to see it before it is too late. This problem is particularly bad in the winter as I think dog owners just think it will be washed away with the rain. I am aware that it is being reported (I have done this along with other parents) and I saw someone cleaning it up today so of course am extremely grateful that the Council do respond. It is not always cleared up in time for 3.30pm however, possibly due to it not being reported early enough or maybe not at all. Also, even if it is cleared up, there is always more the next morning. It is almost as if some dog owners deliberately choose to use the paths as a toilet for their dogs because they are not well lit and so are less likely to be spotted leaving it there. The problem is made worse because as the paths are so busy it unavoidably gets spread around.

It is only a matter of time before it gets trodden into the school grounds or even a classroom (if it hasn't been already). I'm sure I don't have to express the health risks associated with this, let alone the unpleasantness for the staff in the schools that would end up having to clean it up. There are many people who use pushchairs around the schools, not only does this mean dog mess could be transferred into the playground by foot but also on buggy wheels. Furthermore it is not nice having to check and possibly clean buggies and prams everyday before bringing them into a house or putting them in a car.

There are several areas on the paths where big signs painted on the floor would be required:
at the start of each of the three paths off Maple Drive.
the entrance to Flatts path from the Walker buildings on High Street.
halfway along Flatts path from Maple Drive where the infant school grounds begin.
on the triangular tarmac area near the junior school.
I think there always was about 4 signs anyway, and there is only a need for additional ones due to there being a greater tarmac area in total. There may be signs on lamp posts but if there are, they are not visible enough and are obviously ignored. I think the signs on the floor worked well as they were so big that people would feel guilty not cleaning it up.

I hope you will consider this matter carefully. After all people campaigned hard to get the signs put there in the first place so I feel it only right that they are re-painted again. I think this should just have been done as a matter of course when the paths were re-surfaced. Many parents of children at the schools and local play groups feel strongly about this, I have particular cause to since last year my daughter fell over and ended up with dog mess all over her legs.

I would appreciate it if you could reply promptly to me about this. Please bear also in mind it would be helpful if the signs were painted there as soon as possible seeing as though the problem is particularly bad at the moment.”