FRONT-line staff at Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) are to be given the power to issues on-the-spot fines for litter and dog fouling.

From May, community safety wardens, Streetscene staff and civil enforcement officers, will be able to issue fixed penalty notices for the two major offences that blight public areas.

CWAC chief executive Steve Robinson said: “This is a totally new way of working and as time goes, on more roles will be added.

“Staff making up the new team will act as the eyes and ears of the communities they work in, ensuring that the appropriate agencies are informed of problems where the team itself is not able to take action.”

Area and community services executive member Clr Lynn Riley, added: “The days when an officer ignored a problem because they weren’t authorised to deal with it will be a thing of the past.

“Officers will be focused on delivering customer services into the heart of our communities, starting with the problems that people report the most often.

“Obviously we can’t bring all the services into play overnight but we will be training and authorising staff in their new roles – starting with tackling littering and dog fouling.”

Fines of £50 for falling to clean up dog mess have come as welcome news to many, including Rudheath Parish Council which works tirelessly to stop it happening in Griffiths Park.

Council chairman Clr Alison Gerrard said: “We are all for it. We spend a lot of money on dog muck bins round here so hopefully this will encourage more people to be respectful dog owners.”