A CAMPAIGN to tackle dog fouling in Barnard Castle was launched on Monday.
It included the unveiling of a new banner and signs using designs created by pupils from Green Lane and Montalbo primary schools.
The campaign is being spearheaded by town councillors Fiona Turnbull and Valerie Ewart who met school children several times to get their ideas and thoughts on how to deal with the issue.
The main banner, which features a design by pupil Jack Connor, was put up at Scar Top while signs with other children’s designs were put up at fouling hot spots along King Street and the footpath that runs past the town cemetery.
Of the children’s designs, Cllr Ewart said: “The children did so well it was difficult to choose which ones to use.
“We think they have done a good job making the banner and we are hoping all the signs around the town are going to prick a few people’s consciences.
“It is something the children feel passionately about and obviously in the town there has been a huge amount of comment on this front. We are doing our best and it is important that it becomes a community effort.”
Cllr Turnbull, who walks her German pointers Rufus and Margo daily at The Bowes Museum and through Flatts Wood, said she had noticed an increase in incidents recently and thought a problem might be the availability and location of dog poo bins.
Cllr Turnbull said: “There are lots of dog poo bins around The Bowes Museum but in town there are not enough, or they are not emptied often enough.
“We have half-a-dozen or more at Scar Top, but not so many at Raby Avenue or the alley along by William Smith’s.”
The councillor said a map would be drawn up of the location of all the bins to “see if they are in the right places”.
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