Local residents have had enough of dog poo on pavements!

[kingstoncherry]

Some have put together this poster - we'd love to hear your thoughts.

What do you think the solution could be?

Would take quicker notice of something like

WARDENS PATROL THIS AREA.

ZERO TOLERANCE TO DOG FOULING!

and then make sure the wardens ARE working the area.

I would say most people don't read wordy stuff.

I think the poster is great. We as local residents need to take action. The problem is getting out of control and all the children are walking / scooting through it and taking it into school. Hugely unhygienic!! I am more than happy to go out with a can of pink spray and circle every poo I see, which will hopefully highlight the problem and shame people into picking up. Plus it means children can spot the pink and know to avoid it!

I love the poster and think that this issue needs to be taken more seriously than it currently is. As one of the other mums posted, it's out of control. My son has fallen in it twice, it's always on the school routes and a general danger to all the kids. The mums on our road (St George's) were looking to put up posters the kids have made to see if this would deter them. I also called the council and they said the dog warden only works between 9-4pm, what good is that when surely most dog walkers go either earlier or later? Equally why can't the ever so vigilant parking wardens use their vigilance to spot dog owners who don't pick up their dog mess. I think schools, parents and the local community need to fight together to get the council to take this matter more seriously. I am actually embarrassed when my friends who don't live in Kingston come to visit, they all comment on it. It needs to get sorted. I've tried speaking to the council, has anyone got any suggestions on how we can raise the agenda on this

The poster is a great start. As a dog owner myself I am sick of seeing dog poo all over the place. It really isn't difficult to pick up, bag and bin. My children tread in dog poo as a matter of course on the school run and it drives me nuts. In my view we need more bins on local roads, this would help with general litter too.
Good luck to the poo pioneers and I hope we can all join the campaign!

I agree that this is a real problem in this area - my children often step in it, or I find it on the buggy wheels. I'm not entirely sure whether spray painting it will work, but as I can't suggest any better solution, I'm happy people are trying to do something about it - I'll watch with interest.

There is a meeting in the Pottery this Friday at 9.15am with Zac Goldsmith, Andrea Craig the Conservative councillor has agreed to help with banishing this antisocial behaviour. Let's go to the meeting and get them to tell us what they and we have the power to do.
My suggestions: dog wardens starting ASAP dishing out fines. Waiting in hot spots ie Canbury Ave, St George's, Dagmar etc from 6.30am-8.30am when the offences happen.
CCTV in hot spots.
Offenders named or pictures from CCTV put on a regular spot in Kingston Times/local press.
Parents like me using chalk/spray paint (non toxic dissolvable) on all poos they see. I did this on Monday - only to find it had snowed on Tuesday and my hard work was hidden.
Leaflet the offending areas - elm road flats/ Canbury ave etc to ensure everyone is aware they may be being watched.
Police to pound the streets talking to dog owners, making their presence felt.
Posters put up in pubs, on lamp posts, walls, schools.
Any other thoughts let me know.

Here is another version - smaller and straight to the point. Now we just need the backing of the dog warden to actually crack down on the offenders.
Anyone want to join me in circling the dog poo in chalk to shame the owners?
Lets get all North Kingston Mums involved. Dog poo on shoes entering the schools, where the kids sit on the floor crossed legged and fiddling with their soles is dangerous and unhealthy.

Well done and thank you for getting this campaign going! Our streets are shocking! It is a constant concern that my children or I will step or wheel through the mess all over the local streets.

The revised poster looks good

I am very happy to help with the spray paint and really hope the council will approve a dog poo bin as I really believe if these were placed along some of the streets it would encourage those offending to bag and bin it instead. I guess we would just need some guarantee from the council that these would be emptied regularly.

I think having features in the local papers would be a good idea to raise dog owners' attention that we are onto them! You never know, that might bring on some conscience.

And lets hope the council do come up with a dog warden!

I attended the meeting with Zac Goldsmith and Andrea Craig today. It was good to see that there are lots of local residents who are as fed up as I am with this disgusting antisocial behaviour. The outcome of the meeting was positive and I really had the feeling that Zac and Andrea are intending to address this issue, but I know that they are likely to lose interest unless we keep up the pressure on them. My husband tried to take up this campaign 3 or 4 years ago when we first moved to Kingston. He attended meetings with Andrea and the dog warden (who doesn't even exist any more) but nothing was ever done. Hopefully if enough people get on board it will be different this time. I will be contacting all my friends and asking them to post a message here, so everyone can see how many people are sick of all the poo!

Fully supportive of the campaign- great work and let's hope this sorts it out

Totally agree with this campaign. I too am so appalled by the state of our streets - it's no longer a joy to walk anywhere as you constantly have to 'scan' the pavement and watch your children's every step. It's almost become part of our weekly routine to clean somebody in our households shoes - and the buggy wheels! It's no joy first thing in the morning when your child arrives at school with dog muck all over their shoe and trousers and then has to change into their plimsolls all day. Really hope the councillors take note.

Well done to the amazing Mums in my local area who are taking this worthy battle on - fully supportive of it. Shocking how much dis-regard there is for public well-being by local dog owners. Spot fines must become a reality or this will continue. Come on Zac and our new Councillor - earn our votes!

The poo situation is so disgusting in Kingston. One of my kids got so excited about the snow he picked up a snowball which was poo and snow! More must be done to these irresponsible dog owners who can’t be bothered to pick up their dogs poos. Manoeuvring around it in a double buggy is a complete nightmare! Well done to you guys for doing something about it!

Brilliant campaign and can't wait to help it get to the next stage

Zac & Andrea please do something serious about this. My school run is so short & should in theory be easy & pleasant instead it's so stressful as I'm constantly with my 3 children scanning the pavements & of course there's always dog poo at every corner with trails of it smeared all along the pavements. And just when you think thank goodness we've missed the big pile in the corner you step into its trail just a step or 2 later. Like someone said on this thread can you imagine the state of those rugs that our poor children sit on all day in the classroom! Honestly my stomach is churning! Zac & Andrea please don't let another few years slip again without doing anything? This is an issue that affects & endangers everyone in Kingston.

Really hope we have some success with this... The council have to actually deliver though on implementing fines (not just a threat of a fine) to make these culprits take notice!

My school/nursery drop-off routine in the morning seems to consist of me telling the kids to 'mind the poo' at least five times between Lower Kings Road, Kings Road and Staunton Road. Canbury Gardens too - how can people leave their dog's poo in an area they know is played in by kids? Makes me furious.

The posters are a good step in the right direction. I'd suggest the wordier version as a leaflet drop and the succinct one as a poster on lamp posts etc. Really glad to see that something is being done as there is dog poo every few paces on my local roads. In fact it is so bad that people walk down the road at night because they can't walk along the pavement without fear of treading in poo. Despite "poo alert" being a constant cry in our family my children and I regularly tread or scoot in it. Not long ago we even got it on a school bag which then smeared it onto a leg. I would love to see a dog warden patrolling the streets. Perhaps (s)he could draw up a poo map noting times when fresh ones appear so that the worst areas can be targeted at times when most new poos are deposited. It would be wonderful if culprits could actually be caught, fined and forced to clear up. Please, please, please Andrea and Zac, could you do something about this disgusting, unhygienic problem afflicting our streets. Thank you

The great news is that we have the support of the local Councillors and Zac Goldsmith MP.
The meeting last week was a great step in the right direction, with a lot of support in the room. Another campaign has started with the Parks committee, so we are joining forces. Andrea Craig and Zac Goldsmith are meeting 'Streetklene' to see what they can do to back our local campaign against these antisocial dog owners. The fight is on. Some strategically placed citizens are going out on the Wednesday after half term to spray paint the poo in a pilot zone. This will hopefully start the shaming of the dog owners, local press will be in attendance. The streets are going to be patrolled. Keep your eye on local activity. The stickers and leaflets are being put through final approval through the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and local Council. Police Enforcement officers and others will be given the right to fine the offenders. Local residents, be vigilant and report the owners who are not picking up.
We will need your help to post flyers through doors in areas of highest need.
WATCH THIS SPACE.

It's a horrible problem especially around schools. What a great shame that certain dog owners are not caring for their pets or neighbourhood properly. Thank you for taking action.

Thank you for starting this campaign. I have never lived anywhere where there is such a problem. It has been going on for years - over the years I have spoken to and emailed the Council, the Dog Warden (when they had one) and various Councillors. Andrea Craig said a few months ago that if the Conservatives ran the Council they would do something about it - so now is their chance! I'm sure it's not impossible to give Traffic Wardens the power to photograph and fine offenders - they are everywhere in this area. It may need a particularly early morning team to go out, as it seems the worst offenders are out first thing in the morning. I know the initial reaction from the Council will be that they can't do this, but it would be possible, and it is such a waste of a resource not to get them to do this whilst they're out and about!

Dear Madame/Sir,

I am a reporter for Kingston University's student newspaper The River, and I am writing because I am currently working on a news story about the rejection by Kingston Council of Ensco's proposal for a new student accommodation on 73-77 Penrhyn Road. The application has been refused by Kingston Council? on January 27 2015.

Given the extreme importance of parents when making decisions in the community, I would like a statement by one of you on this matter, in particular by a resident in the area around Penrhyn Road if possible.
Would you be so kind as to let me know if you could answer some questions for the article as soon as possible?

In particular, I would need a comment answering the following questions:

• How do you feel about the rejection of Ensco's proposal fora new student accommodation on 73-77 Penrhyn Road? by the Kingston Council?

• What impact do you think the rejection of Ensco's proposal is likely to have on local residents?

The article is going to be published on the issue of The River newspaper going to print next Wednesday February 25, so I would need a comment as soon as possible, and ideally by today.

Thanking you in advance,

Kind Regards,

Federica Ragonese

I have seen dog owners letting their dogs poo in Canbury Gardens I think that is worse than the pavements as children run on the grass/by bushes and have no chance of spotting the poo.

I saw a poster in the past that showed a baby crawling on grass, about to put their hand in dog poo. I thought it was a great deterrent as it was so horrifying. If these posters were used in the park it may help.

I challenge any dog owners who don't scoop, that can help too...

I live on Clifton Rd and concur with you all that this disgusting problem is out of hand. I know of an offender on my street and I'm planning on dropping off poop bags and a note through their letterbox. I've seen them on several occasions letting their big golden retriever dump on Dagmar Rd-so infuriating! I used to post a no poo sign I made on the tree in front of my house after a few poos turned up their and it worked till some loser teenagers tore it off the tree. I'm happy to spray paint poo or offenders at this point. It's been on my buggy wheels, in my house! What else can we do to move this along?

www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/news/11864096.__100_fines_for_dog_owners_who_fail_to_clean_up_their_pets__poo/

Hi all, an interesting article in the Kingston Guardian, regarding the council taking a vote on fining offenders who allow their dogs to poo and don't pick up.
The campaign is building momentum, this week we are finally going to spray paint the dog poo in north Kingston. There has been a hold up due to the Councillor who is supporting this initiative has been unable to take part until this date. The paint is chalk based and environmentally friendly.
I seriously hope that some residents are shamed into picking up after their dogs. I also hope that once owners can be fined, this is a frequent event and those fining will be waiting at the places at the right time. Recently Canbury avenue was so bad, I had to make my boys scoot to school on the road as there was no way around the minefield on the pavement. I went onto the Council website and reported the disgusting state of the pavement under the 'Environment and waste' heading, fly tipping, then street cleaning, then there was an option to tick dog poo. 4 Other residents also did it and the dog waste was dealt with the following day, with a brown sawdust type material being put over the 100's of poos. Not a solution, but it was helpful that the boys didn't step directly onto the poo and it was a bit easier to see and avoid it. Please start naming and shaming residents that you know are the offenders, use the council website as there is often an area to write complaints. We are creating leaflets and posters which are waiting approval from the Police, local government and NHW so once they are available I will post them and you can print them and put them through the offenders doors, if you know who they are.

KEEP COMPLAINING, WE NEED THIS SORTED.