WIRRAL Council has been slammed after it was revealed it has not been issuing on the spot fines to people who allowed their dogs to foul on the borough’s pavements for the last four months.

The introduction of new laws surrounding dog fouling led to confusion for Wirral Council, who said they originally understood new legislation meant a written warning had to be issued before fines could be imposed.

However, the authority says new advice means it can now issue fines - usually £50 - immediately.

Oxton Liberal Democrat councillor Stuart Kelly reacted with anger at the news and said the authority’s “failure to keep up” with changes in the law has made it harder to effectively prosecute irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to mess up local pavements and fields.

He said: “The problem of dog mess is never far from the top of issues constituents raise with me, people want tough action to prevent and deter this mess in our community.”

Wirral Council’s ruling Labour group recently announced plans in its budget to expand the dog enforcement team in a bid to tackle dog fouling across the borough, with more than £100,000 due to be invested.

But Cllr Kelly said: “This lapse is all the more embarrassing for the Labour leader as he has been trumpeting an alleged crackdown the council is planning on the issue, but the fact is it is now harder to prosecute offenders.

“In fact they have been forced to take dog fouling enforcement out of a potential contract because ‘there is no clear legislation to enforce’ in Wirral

“Labour’s record on this is appalling: first they slash the dog warden service from 10 down to three wardens and now they have failed to keep up with the law.”

Cllr Kelly added: “While the majority of dog owners are considerate of others there is a minority that should be condemned for their irresponsible and dangerous behaviour.

“The leaving behind of faeces is a well known health concern as toxocaeria can see the transfer of a worm to children which could lead to blindness.”

Joe Blott, Wirral’s strategic director of transformation and resources, said: "Contrary to previous advice that the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act repealed much of the former legislative framework, we have recently received guidance that Wirral can still issue fixed penalty notices for dog fouling under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.

"However, as a council, we are looking to engender a culture change, with the onus on issuing warnings, where appropriate, and on prevention and education, rather than prosecution."

Mr Blott said the authority is now implementing Public Space Protection Orders which cover a wide range of anti-social behaviours, including dog fouling.

The authority expects to have them up and running by the summer.

Mr Blott added: "We are totally committed to improving our environment using appropriate legislation where necessary and this is confirmed by council’s decision  to increase resources available for education and enforcement, with £102,500 earmarked in the budget for the recruitment of four more dog fouling wardens."