Dog fouling - probably public enemy number one for most local councils.

But a new set of pooper troopers are on their way to the Stroud district: town and parish council staff.

About a year ago Dursley town council got the ball rolling on allowing its employees to issue fines to owners who fail to clean up their dog’s mess.

Currently only employees of the district council have the power to do that, but with just two dedicated dog wardens for the whole Stroud area, Dursley felt it did not have enough backup for problem sites like the War Memorial Recreation Ground and the Highfields Estate.

“So we approached Stroud district council in the hope of teaming up,” explained town clerk John Kay.

“We wanted to be able to train our own ground staff to be able to issue fixed penalty notices.”

District councillors approved exactly that at a meeting on Thursday, July 19.

Any town or parish council will now be able to appoint an employee as an “authorised person” to serve fixed penalty notices on behalf of Stroud District Council for dog fouling offences.

Stroud’s new poop troops will not be able to go rogue, however - if Stroud district council suspects foul play, its head of health and wellbeing will be able to withdraw authorisations.