I had taken Little B to Florence Road Park in Chichester for a session on the swings and playthings.

There should have been a spring in my step.

Instead there was something infinitely more unpleasant; an ominous squelch sounded as my size nine Loakes came into contact with something that quickly identified itself by way of a putrid aroma.

Visiting and enjoying our parks should be a simple pleasure, not a test of wit and skill as you try to negotiate your way through a labyrinth of canine faecal piles.

Florence Road Park is one of the best in the area. All credit to Chichester District Council for making it so. It is just a shame that cracking down on irresponsible and selfish dog owners is not done with greater force.

A quick look at the CDC website reveals that certain measures are in place, including Fixed Penalty Notices if the owner is caught by a council dog warden or another authorised officer.

If this £50 fine is not instantly paid then the culprit could face prosecution and a maximum of a £1,000 fine.

But as I understand it this only applies if the dirty Herberts are witnessed failing to scoop their hound's poop.

Apparently you can also report someone for not doing decent thing and are asked to provide a description of owner, dog and any other information such as a car registration number. I wonder how effective this process is.

Dog fouling is not only a menace in our parks, but also our beaches.

Selsey, Bognor and the Witterings rely on tourism in the summer months, but a pleasant day at the seaside is instantly ruined when your little darling puts their hand or feet in something previously deposited by a desperate mutt whose owner could not be bothered to clear it up.

Faeces can carry and transmit disease to children, including toxocariasis, which can cause blindness. And it's not just humans who are at risk. If a dog is carrying an infection then the implications are grim for other dogs. I am genuinely puzzled as to what kind of person thinks it is acceptable to let their dog do its business and then not bother to clean it up.

Whenever I talk to dog owners they always say it is not them and always an irresponsible few. Well, if that really is the case then these 'few' have some very prolific dogs when it comes to their rear end function.

Dog wardens and other authorised officers can only do so much. There is no excuse for not clearing up after your dog. Pet shops have plenty of poop scoop products and every dog owner can get their hands on a plastic bag. And there lies a part solution and deterrent to the problem.

If officers started stopping and searching folk who are out walking their dogs we would find out very quickly who the real culprits are. It is simple – if they are not in possession of a poop scoop or plastic bag then we can safely conclude they have no intention of clearing up their dog's mess. Guilty as charged. Chichester District Council and local other authorities are missing a trick here. There are an awful lot of £50 fines to be had.


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