A new scheme that hopes to tackle a nationwide dog poo problem is now coming to the Wirral.
A project led by Wirral Council, in partnership with Dogs Trust and Keep Britain Tidy, will introduce five new dog walking trails to the borough in an attempt to reduce mess left by dog fouling. The trails will be of varying length and will feature obvious signage to encourage the proper disposal of dog mess.
The project has previously been successful in other areas of the country and when it was run in both 2017 and 2018 the areas saw a 40% reduction in the amount of dog poo left along the walks.
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Two of the five paths will be in Birkenhead Park, at 2.4km and 4km. The remaining three will be at North Wirral Coastal Park, measuring 1.6km, 1.8km and 3.2km.
The walks will be colour-coded and will direct walkers to the nearest bins for safe disposal. More bins have been added to the routes, as have maps showing their locations at the route beginnings.
Michelle Moat, Community Education & Engagement Officer at Dogs Trust, said: “Walking a dog is a wonderful past time with many health benefits for both owner and pooch. However, part of being a responsible dog owner is ensuring you pick up after your dog and suitably dispose of the waste.
"Previous interventions have shown that by having more bins available, clearer signposting and messaging that ‘Any Bin Will Do’ has dramatically improved the surrounding areas.
“We’re excited by the potential of our new Walk This Way routes and can’t wait to see the improvements it will make. Hopefully it will be a long-term change to the area and make the space more enjoyable for everyone.”
The reaction of people living in the area was mostly positive, with many people in support of doing something to tackle the problem with dog mess, which is left by over 10% of dog walkers nationwide, according to a study by Dogs Trust.
One man living in the Wirral said on Facebook: "Well done [Wirral Council], for effort! What a terrible indictment on the selfish dog walkers who need a helping hand over something that should be second nature."
One woman found the reason behind the scheme hilariously, but unfortunately, necessary, saying: "How is it even possible to not have poo bags? I found a roll of poo bags in my dressing gown pocket this morning! I find them in every bloomin' pocket I have."
Another man posted: "Begs the question, why bother even picking it up to just leave hanging on trees, fences, posts and even benches?"
A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “We’re really proud of our amazing open spaces in Wirral and it’s great to find new ways to keep them beautiful.
“This project will make it easier for people to enjoy walking their pets, safe in the knowledge they know where they can dispose of the dog poo they pick up, ensuring the area is protected from the blight of dog mess.”
