Demands are growing for a permanent litter and anti-dog fouling team of law enforcers to be set up to clean the town.
Mansel Williams, borough councillor for the Belle Vue ward, said he believed one of the priorities of the new unitary council should be for a ‘dedicated team’ to be formed to replace the current part-time wardens.
Presently dog wardens, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council’s town warden and bylaws officer and police-controlled community support officers have the authority to issue fines for litter offences and dog fouling.
Litter louts are currently stung with £80 on-the-spot fines for failing to keep streets clean, which is reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Uniformed wardens can fine dog owners only if they see an offence being committed, or if a witness is willing to provide statements which could be used in any court proceedings.
People failing to clean up after a dog can receive an on-the-spot fine of £50. Failure to pay the fine could result in the offender being prosecuted in a magistrates court and receiving a fine of up to £1,000.
Councillor Williams will raise the issue with his fellow councillors at a full council meeting on Monday.
He said: “Litter and dog fouling continue to be high on the list of worries of residents throughout the town.
“These issues undermine all our efforts to improve the area and something needs to be done about it.
“I’m not asking for a change in the law as it already exists. What I’m asking for is a new dedicated team to be created who will enforce the law strictly to stop people dropping litter and dog fouling.
“I also think extra facilities for litter and dog mess bins should be made available.
“We believe this would be council tax-payer’s money well spent.
“I’m carefully tracking planning events, which will decide whether the town council or the new Shropshire Council will be the responsible authority.
“Whichever one is responsible, we will be urging the allocation of extra funding and a far more punitive approach to offenders.”
