THE Northwich town mayor has urged residents to pick up after their pets after witnessing dog poo ‘scarring’ the town’s public parks.

This comes as Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) said there had been an increase in dog fouling in the borough’s countryside sites.

A study published this week has shown that dog poo and urine are being deposited in nature reserves in such quantities it is likely to be damaging to wildlife. 

Dog fouling is also a danger to children as they are particularly susceptible to the toxocara parasite found in dog mess which can cause blindness.

Cllr Sam Naylor said Neumann’s Flash was one of the areas covered in faeces.

Posting online, he said: “It is part of Northwich Community Woodlands which is owned by CWAC and has six sites including Carey and Marbury Parks.

“There is one really hardworking ranger but volunteers, e.g. FOAM (Friends of Marbury), do a fantastic job but understandably will not pick up poo.

“Don’t blame CWAC or responsible owners and walkers, blame the utterly irresponsible people who scar these fantastic public assets.”

The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, councillor Karen Shore said: “Many dog walkers think that leaving dog mess in nature will not do any harm.

“Just because it’s not on the path doesn’t mean it doesn’t need picking up – it does, for our many visitors, the children who play in our lovely parks, plus our StreetCare teams and volunteers who walk among flowers and shrubs to keep the parks looking good.

"Most ecosystems are naturally low nutrient environments and over-fertilisation, which can be caused by dog mess, reduces biodiversity by allowing invasive species like nettles or hogweed to drive out others and the wildlife that depend on them.

“Picking up after your four-legged friend is a must, no matter where you are please, or risk being fined.”

Anyone caught allowing their dog to foul could be handed a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

The council is able to help volunteers organise a ‘Pink Poo’ campaign to tackle dog fouling in their area.

This involves spraying sighted incidents of dog fouling with chalk-based pink paint to embarrass owners.

More information is available at cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/streets-and-open-spaces/pink-poo-tool-kit.aspx.