Barnard Castle Town Councillor Rima Chatterjee, who owns the Old Well Inn on the Bank, told colleagues last week how some customers had the cheek to let their dogs defecate in the pub’s beer garden.
She said: “I do not understand how if you’re a dog owner, you’d expect someone else to pick up after you – it’s not fair.”
Cllr Chatterjee said she provided bags at the pub for patrons whose pets are caught short but still found dog muck on her property.
She added: “We have signs saying children play here but still people do it.”
Cllr Kelly Blissett was disgusted and Cllr George Hallimond wanted tougher action taken against owners.
He said: “Going down the street early on a Saturday morning you see they’ve just left it – these people should be fined.
“Some people just leave poo bags and don’t drop them in a bin.
“I saw three bags three feet from a bin – it’s disgraceful.
“Until they get caught and fined they will carry on doing it. For a tourist town it does not look good.”
The town council has offered free dog bags to owners from the council offices at Woodleigh and the new 999 Quad Hub, off Wilson Street.
But councillors heard how only a few people were using the bags and suggestions were made to pull the plug on the £254 service and put the money into a fencing scheme for Dawson Road MUGA (Multi-use Games Area).
Cllr Blissett said: “If it’s only specific people getting the bags we are just subsidising them so it’s not really worth it.”
However, clerk Michael King said one or two of those who pick up bags don’t necessarily use them all themselves and often take them to “improve other peoples’ behaviour”.
New Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were introduced by Durham County Council last month to crack down on dog owners who let their pets stray or foul.
Training for council staff to enforce penalties has also received a county funding boost.
Mr King said there was no direct warden for Barnard Castle itself and Cllr Hallimond wanted to see traffic wardens drafted in to tackle the ignorant owners.
He said: “They just potter around the car parks and don’t do a great deal – it would extend their job.
“A traffic warden could ask if a dog owner had a bag in their pocket – if they don’t it’s a fine.”
Cllr Hallimond also revealed his wheelchair often meant filthy excrement posed him a personal problem.
“I am very passionate about this – I cannot wipe it off on the grass and I end up taking it into my flat.
Cllr Richard Child added: “I think George makes a good point – we are trying to attract tourists in the town and this is a very good way to put them off.
“But I think withdrawing the bags offers an excuse to not bother at all.”
It was eventually agreed the free bag service would continue for the time being and supplies would be replenished.
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