Hastings: Order to remove dog poo bag dispensers around town branded 'incredibly petty' by Green Party

The dispensers - plastic drinks bottles with a panel cut out and filled with dog poo bags - are attached to lampposts and street signs in popular dog-walking areas.

The idea behind the dispensers came from Hastings Green Party.

Green party councillors from the borough council said each bottle carries a notice asking users to notify their local Green councillor or candidate if the bags need topping up.

But the party said it has received a formal letter from East Sussex County Council instructing for the dispensers to be removed.

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council, said he encouraged the town’s Green party to get behind the scheme after seeing an example made by a friend in Hastings.

He said: “Everyone complains about dog mess. I thought this was a really smart idea, a positive way of encouraging owners to clear up after their dogs. We’ve had loads of good comments.

“Hastings Borough Council is responsible for clearing dog mess, and East Sussex is not helping. I wish the county council would focus more on doing things like repairing our roads and pavements. This is incredibly petty.”

Green party councillors said the county council told them that dog poo bag bottles were ‘not permitted to be placed on street furniture’.

An East Sussex Highways spokesperson said: “Whilst we recognise the spirit behind wanting to attach dog poo bag dispensers to our lamp columns, we have a duty to monitor what objects and materials are attached to streetlights and therefore permission is required before anything can be secured to them.

“We have to apply this policy to everyone and because permission had not been obtained before the dispensers were attached to the lampposts, the campaign organisers were asked to remove them.

“However, we understand residents’ concern about dog fouling and we are happy to work with the borough council to consider suitable locations for appropriate dispensers.

“We would remind people that dog fouling is an offence and that dog owners must always clean up after their dog.”