PROPOSALS to fine dog walkers found not to be carrying spare poo bags are to be scrapped.

In the process of reviewing public spaces protection orders in place for dog control, Burnley Council bosses were considering the possibility of issuing fixed penalty notices to anyone with a dog who could not show that they are carrying a dog poo bag.

But despite a public consultation showing support for the idea, it is not set to be included in the latest PSPO to be approved by the council’s executive next week.

A new part of the proposed order will ban dogs from entering Towneley war memorial pond.

Head of green spaces and amenities, Simon Goff, said it was disrespectful and caused the pond filter to become blocked with dog hairs.

He added: “Consultation identified strong support amongst both non-owners and owners for dogs to be excluded from the areas identified except Thompson Park and the Towneley war memorial pond.

“The exclusion of dogs from Thompson Park, which has been in places since the late 1970s, should be continued because of the type of facilities including the paddling pool, miniature railway, boating lake and ornamental gardens.

“The proposal to exclude dogs from the Towneley war memorial pond is a new order that is required because dog owners allow dogs to splash about in the reflective pond and this is both disrespectful and causes to pond filter to become blocked with dog hairs.

“A large majority (89 per cent) of non-owners and a small majority of dog owners (52 per cent) agree that fines should be issued to persons not carrying spare bags.

“In deciding whether to introduce this order, the council needs to consider whether enforcing such an order would be beneficial.

“There is a risk that the goodwill of responsible dog owners could be lost if they feel aggrieved because they are stopped and asked to produce bags, whilst less responsible dog owners would merely need to carry a spare bag to avoid a fine (whether or not they use it).

“There are also likely to be more appeals to these FPNs from dog walkers claiming to have used up all their spare bags.”

In 1979 when dog control orders in the parks were first introduced the Burnley Dog Owners Action Committee was formed to fight them.

Burnley dog walkers Mavis Thornton and John Eccles also spent a short time in Holloway and Strangeways prisons for flouting the order.

Executive members will decide whether to approve the proposed changes to the PSPO at a meeting on Tuesday next week.