News Release

4th April 2003

DOGGY DOOs VICTORY

Michael Fabricant and Labour MP Bob Blizzard forced a climb down by the Government in Parliament today (4th April) when a Government Minister (Alun Michael) conceded in the Commons that the law must be changed and that fines charged by local councils for dog fouling of pavements and grass areas can be kept in future by councils for the employment of more dog wardens. In the past, any fines money collected was handed straight back to the Treasury in Whitehall.

Michael Fabricant told the Commons "We have two dog wardens in Lichfield District. They do their best with training schemes and enforcement, but muck on streets and in green areas tell their own story. Lichfield District is cleaner than most, but nationally, 1000 tons of dogs mess is deposited each day and it costs £450 million a year to clean it up. But this doesn't include the cost to the nation and our health service through disease caught from dogs dirt. In the worst case, young children have been blinded by infections from this mess.

"This legislation is not anti-dog nor is it anti-dog owner. It will, however, penalise irresponsible dog owners. It will enable councils to have the resources for the very first time to enforce existing laws which forbid the fouling of our land by dogs. I hope that once the law is finally passed in Parliament, Lichfield District Council and other authorities will invest in more dog wardens".