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Vigilantes have been spraying dog mess with luminious yellow paint to highlight the dog mess issue in the Norreys area
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Vigilantes use luminous spray to highlight Norreys dog poo problem

By Jon Nurse
February 07, 2013

Luminous spray has been splurged on dog poo littering the streets by vigilantes taking a stand against unruly pet owners.

Fed-up campaigners are urging the council to take action against dog owners who are failing to clear up their animals’ mess in Norreys.

Vigilantes have taken it a step further and highlighted poo along Barrett Crescent with luminous yellow spray paint that glows in the dark.

The protesters launched a ‘Take action on dog fouling’ group on Facebook to draw attention to the poo problem and spur the council into action.

Louise McGow, 47, of Barrett Crescent, contacted The Wokingham Times after spotting the luminous poop in her road and agrees the issue has been causing a stink.

She said: “Sometimes you can’t get along the pavement without walking in it. We have blind people living on this street.

“It’s got a lot of conversation going and it’s made people aware of the problem. It shows people are not willing to put up with it.

Protesters, who asked not to be named, say they were inspired to set up the group when they saw The Wokingham Times’ report highlighting Finchampstead Neighbourhood Action Group’s complaints against dog fouling around the village.

In a post, the group says: “Help us make Wokingham borough sit up and take note that we have had enough.

“It’s illegal, it’s unsightly and most importantly it is a health hazard.”

Miss McGow added she had noticed the number of incidents drop since the spray painting started.

She added: “I think it’s made dog walkers feel suspicious as they are starting to wonder if they are being watched.”

A Wokingham Borough Council spokeswoman said: “Any reports of dog fouling are passed to our animal warden who looks into the matter.

“We have not received any complaints regarding dog fouling in the Norreys area, except for one incident in Barrett Crescent, and we are not aware of any other issues.

“It is every owner’s moral duty and legal responsibility to clean up after their dog.”

Fixed penalty fines of £50 can be issued by council housing officers, community wardens and animal wardens.

In some circumstances offenders can even be taken to court and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 and a criminal record.

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You obviously have an issue with people buying houses here. I am sorry that you feel that way. I see no problem in wanting the area to remain the way it was when we moved here. I bought here because it was a lovely open street and the neighbours were friendly, but the last couple of years things have become worse. I would hate to think that I only care about the area that we bring my family up in because we own our home. I had the same pride with regard to the flat I had privately rented previously in Wokingham.

Workingmum, Wokingham
12/02/2013 at 21:14

Workingmum.

Sorry I would disagree with you. In the forty years that I have lived in the area the Norreys area has improved considerably in many respects including the general problems caused by dogs. Unfortunately there are now more owner occupiers in the area who are much more inclined to complain.

Where action is needed it is educating the small percentage of residents who have little respect for the neighbourhood. I strongly support the idea that able bodied people on benefits should have a responsibility for the cleanliness of their immediate environment. It was noticable during the recent snow how few residents cleared the pavements outside their properties compared with the neighbouring estates.

PoneRana, Wokingham
10/02/2013 at 13:18

I was the person in Barrett Crescent who complained to the council about this problem. I am rather annoyed that in this article they don't seem to think there is in an issue, whereas their reply to me indicated that they would take action. We purchased our house 7 years ago, in the last few years we have noticed that the area has deteriorated and the council seems to concentrate on the more affluent areas, but as the Conservatives are in control, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

Workingmum, Wokingham
08/02/2013 at 17:00

If the dog owners are lazy and will never want to pick up their dog's waste, while at the same time people don't want bins for dog waste, then wouldn't it just be sensible to employ local people to pick up dog waste and other litter as this will help reduce unemployment and poverty while, at the same time, saving the environment within our local community?

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
08/02/2013 at 16:02

It doesn't matter if we had 1,000's of dog bins across the borough. Lazy dog owners will not use them if they never have before.

A bin is a bin - it doesn't matter whether you put dog waste in it or rotting food etc.

I P Freely
08/02/2013 at 11:55

People who pick up their dog mess should take it home in order to dispose of it. There is little worse than the smell coming from unemptied dog bins. Those people who use the litter bins beside bus stops to deposit their little bags should be prosecuted.

As to photographing straying dogs it is almost impossible to get a reasonable photograph in most cases. I tried yesterday to photograph four dogs that were running around the football pitch in Norreys Avenue. I didn't manage to take a usable picture.

PoneRana, Wokingham
08/02/2013 at 11:26

It’s disgusting that we don’t have dog bins. A lot of residents have dogs and should not have to put their dog’s mess in bins that are also used by children (if they bother to put the dog mess in a bin in the first place). We live in a beautiful part of the country and no matter how we look at it our local community on the whole is quite affluent (well above the average).

I know I go on about this but can we really not afford dog bins across Wokingham to keep our streets clean – especially when you look at the tens of millions we are spending on Wokingham Town centre regeneration?

Cllr. Tahir Maher, Earley
08/02/2013 at 09:51

When I think of street vigilantes, I have to admit the first thing that comes to mind is not a gang taking the time to spray paint doggy curls (rather than just picking them up and making a helpful difference).

Still, if they ever make a sequel to The Warriors...

Nowtas, West Berkshire
08/02/2013 at 09:49

This subject regarding the dog waste problem on the Norreys Estate is a threat to the environment but nevertheless is an opportunity. The reason I say this is an opportunity because, if the Council had any sense, they would give jobs to unemployed people working for the Council as street cleaners. This would help contribute towards providing full employment in the local area, though I highly doubt the Council would implement this due to the fact they would rather claim false expenses of over £6000 for themselves per calendar year rather than bailing out local people by providing crucial jobs to help the environment within our local community.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
07/02/2013 at 18:10

Cllr. Tahir Maher - or deposit our dog waste with said cllrs....

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
07/02/2013 at 16:31

If I remember correctly the Tories at Wokingham council took away all the dog bins to save £65k a year. Ironically they were happy to give cllrs close to £40 for being directors of companies where they were undertaking roles they were already doing previously. I rather we have the dog bins back !!

Cllr. Tahir Maher, Earley
07/02/2013 at 15:54

How many Fixed Penalty Fines have been issued for dog fouling this year? (And littering and dropping f.á.g. butts from cars for that matter). Hardly a deterent.

BTW I can't believe f.á.g. is a banned word.....

Keith Baker
07/02/2013 at 15:46

I just thought Banksy had left one of his stencils :)

If there is a free roaming dog take a picture, pop some fliers up in the area asking anyone who knows who the owner is to call 0118 974 6000 and say the owner is not ensuring that their dog does not foul the area.

'Job' done.

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
07/02/2013 at 15:18

The first step should be to reduce the number of dogs wandering around Norreys. These not only foul the pavements but also hunt in packs in the recreation areas. These create major problems on the football pitches and children play areas where the excrement problem is much more dangerous than on the pavements.