TOWN leaders in Thornbury will be looking again at ways to tackle dog fouling on the Mundy Playing Fields.

A call has been made for dogs to be banned from the popular play area but that would affect responsible pet owners who clean up after their dogs.

There has been a problem with dog fouling for some time, with a scheme set up to try and resolve the issue.

Under the Green Dog Walkers project, owners had to agree to clean up after their animals and be obliged to carry spare bags to offer to those who did not do so.

Those involved in the scheme wore armbands to indicate they were trying to help but there were incidents of them receiving abuse from irresponsible owners, resulting in the system failing.

Now members of the town council's playing fields and cemeteries committee will hear from the South Gloucestershire dog warden at a meeting in February as they consider what other action could be taken.

Town clerk Judith Payne said: "We had a dog fouling problem over there for some time and we said that if it didn't improve, we would have to ban dogs.

"The Green Dog Walkers scheme was set up but there is now a lack of enthusiasm for it. Some people received abuse and we said it wasn't working.

"It has got worse lately. Some people let their dogs roam around the play equipment and make a mess without clearing up.

"Some owners want to be able to let their dogs run around, which is OK if they do clear up the mess. But at certain times of the day, they can't even see where there dogs are going."

She said the dog warden would give the committee an update on rules regarding dogs so members had the latest information before considering possible ways to resolve the matter.

Mrs Payne said the council had to consider whether the openness of the playing fields would be lost if any area was fenced off and how it would affect responsible people accompanied by dogs whose children or grandchildren wanted to use the play equipment.

Lower Morton resident Charles Eardley-Wilmot raised the problem at a recent meeting of the full council.

He said: "I think dogs have to be banned altogether. There are plenty of other areas in Thornbury where dogs can be exercised without using the playing fields.

"It's not only the playing area for children that's affected. Football pitches have to be inspected before matches and there's a risk of disease being passed on.

"Dogs and children's play areas don't mix and now that the Green Dog Walkers scheme has collapsed, I think dogs should be banned."