COUNCIL TO BAN DOGS AT THE BROW [09/10/07 02:38:06]

Colchester Borough Council have announced sweeping new measures to cope with the nuisance posed by irresponsible dog owners who let their pooches foul areas designated for sports activity.

The new laws, which form part of the Canine Excrement (Sports) Act 2006, come into force on 1 November and are aimed to protecting sportsmen from landing in large piles of doggy waste whilst practising their hobby. They have been welcomed by players, wives, girlfriends and mothers alike.

It will now be an offence to walk you hounds in an area designated for sporting use and a spokesman for the Council said that the new legislation was long overdue with his organisation receiving hundreds of complaints each year.

Dog owners flouting the new orders will be hit hard in the pocket. Fixed penalty notices of £75 will be handed out by new Turd Prevention Officers and repeat offenders can expect fines of up to £2000 if their case ends up in court with a maximum prison sentence of seven years if convicted a second time.

Head of Security John Stockbridge (68) is looking forward to using the 'emergency powers' granted to him by the Council. "I won't have any crap" he gleefully informed the website and he added that he intended to target cat owners as well.

So, an end to heaps of steaming freshly delivered deposits at The Brow is now in sight and Stockbridge is relishing his role as a temporary Turd Prevention Officer.