21 Fixed Penalty Notices for dog fouling and fly tipping last week

The Council has provided an update on its ongoing activity across the County Borough to clamp down on dog fouling and fly tipping – with 21 Fixed Penalty Notices issued for offences last week. 

Rhondda Cynon Taf is home to beautiful landscapes we can all be proud of – and the Council takes a zero-tolerance approach towards people whose actions blight the environment around us. Our dedicated Streetcare team is on patrol across the County Borough and continues to issue enforcement notices to people acting irresponsibly as dog owners, or are caught littering/fly tipping.

We continue to ask residents to simply love where they live by cleaning up after their dogs, Bag IT and Bin IT, and stick to the rules which have been in place since October 2017. Dogs are banned from schools, children’s play areas and marked sports pitches, and must be kept on a lead in cemeteries.

In the week commencing Monday, March 15, the following action was taken against irresponsible dog owners and those people caught fly tipping:

• 18 Fixed Penalty Notices issued to irresponsible dog owners, including nine for dogs in restricted areas, six for dog fouling offences and three for dogs being off a lead in a cemetery.

• Three Fixed Penalty Notices issued for fly tipping, and five interviews carried out under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 over suspected cases of fly tipping in our communities.

In addition, the Council can confirm that one court hearing took place last week, where a resident was found guilty of fly tipping. They were fined £120 and ordered to pay £241.40 in costs and a £30 Victim Surcharge.

Nigel Wheeler, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Group Director – Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services, said: “The Council is serious about ensuring our open spaces remain safe and enjoyable for everyone, and we will be issuing regular updates about enforcement activity in our communities to tackle irresponsible dog owners and fly tippers.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been using these outdoor areas to exercise – so the Council is reminding residents about their responsibilities as dog owners to clean up after their pets, and to adhere to Dog Control rules in relation to sports pitches, schools and cemeteries which have been in place for three-and-a-half years. Also, it’s never been OK to fly tip, and the Council continues its zero-tolerance approach on both matters.

“The vast majority of residents do stick to these rules, and it is unfair that shared outdoor spaces are spoiled by the minority who don’t. In total, 21 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued last week, along with a successful prosecution in court for fly tipping, which shows the Council’s positive enforcement in action.”