A Wells councillor is calling on fellow dog owners to help clean up the city — and stamp out dog mess once and for all.

Cllr Shirley Eden has joined forces with the Accessible Wells campaign to draw up a new action plan targeting dog fouling across the city's streets and green spaces.

She says Wells has the chance to become a national example of best practice — and is urging responsible owners to step forward with ideas.

"I would love to hear from other dog owners who would like to help me with ideas to rid our streets and public spaces of dog mess," said Cllr Eden.

"Wells is certainly not the worst place in the UK for dog mess, but with the right support it could become one of the best – and I cannot see any reason why that should not be possible."

Dog fouling remains a serious concern for residents, with risks ranging from blindness-causing infections in children to river pollution and trip hazards for the elderly.

The four main dangers flagged by campaigners are:

• Infection risk: Toxocariasis and other parasites pose serious health threats, especially to children.
• River pollution: Waste leaches into Wells' natural springs and waterways, harming wildlife.
• Messy streets: Fouling on pavements and parks makes public spaces unsafe and unpleasant.
• Fall hazard: Dog mess is a slip risk, particularly for blind or elderly people.

Anyone wanting to get involved in the campaign can email Cllr Eden directly at [email protected], or visit accessiblewells.org.uk for more information.

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