TWO councillors have called for more to be done to encourage responsible dog owners to clean up after their pets.

Coun Julian Price, (Lab, Covingham & Dorcan) has appealed to Swindon Council to install a dog poo bin linking wards, after receiving complaints from local residents. The alleyway is located between Ashbury Avenue in Nythe and Ringwood Close in Walcot.

He has already made a formal request for the bin to be put in the alleyway, but this was rejected by the council because it is not its responsibility.

Coun Price said: “I raised the issue of putting a dog bin in the alleyway after residents informed me that dog mess was being left there.

“Not only is this a health and safety concern it is also like having graffiti in an area.

“A dog bin would offer residents walking their dog down there an easy opportunity to dispose of their dog’s mess and I believe would likely solve the problem.”

He has been supported by Coun Abdul Amin, (Lab, Walcot & Park North) who has previously made calls for dog mess to be spray painted green in order to shame owners.

“Non-disposed dog mess continues to be a problem in the Walcot area and something I know really frustrates Walcot residents,” said Coun Amin.

“I think the council needs to find ways to encourage dog owners to be responsible with their dog mess.

“I have before suggested innovative ways of reducing the amount of uncollected dog mess that other local councils have implemented.

“But simple measures such as using more bins should be used as well where appropriate.”

A spokesman for Swindon Council said the installation of bins is the responsibility of parish councils. Dog mess used to require its own bin but has since been re-classified so it can be disposed in normal litter bins, which are the responsibility of the parish councils. Coun Price has said if Swindon Council does not add the bin, he will contact Stratton Parish Council, which Nythe currently falls within.

He said: “I don’t think a bin would be a large cost to insert or collect from. So I am therefore disappointed that Swindon Council has failed to agree to insert a dog bin down the alleyway.

Paul Russell, the Stratton Parish Council clerk said: “Putting a bin in is certainly something we would consider if formally asked.”