PARISH councillors have said that they will look at solutions after concerns were raised about an increase in dog mess being left in a popular playing field in the area.

Kingswood Parish Council looks after the maintenance of Kingswood playing fields and at its recent meeting councillors decided that they will take action to investigate the issue.

It comes after one resident, Neil Merrefield, said that the amount of dog mess was causing a number of problems for residents in the area.

“There has been a massive problem here for a while now,” Neil said.

“There used to be a sign saying ‘no dogs’ but that disappeared and it has gotten worse since.

“At the village fair recently there was a young girl covered in it, it was a minefield apparently.”

Neil also claimed that some football games for the local youth team have been on the brink of being called off because of the problem.

“I have a 12-year-old son and a nine-year-old girl that have stepped in stuff and it is just not on really,” Neil continued.

“I just don’t want to be having to worry about it when my children are out on the field and I think a number of residents are feeling the same way.

“I just want them to put a sign back up just like they are all over the area, I think it would be a good deterrent.”

The council discussed the matter at its recent meeting and decided on a number of steps.

Cllr Ken Wood suggested that the council should pay for more permanent patrols of the field, more CCTV, look at the possibility of fencing and also dog bag dispensers.

The council decided that more CCTV was not an option and that bag dispensers could cause more littering but did reveal that a consultation on whether to fence off the play equipment on the field will take place in October.

Cllr Wood then proposed that a budget of £250 be set for improved signage at the field and all councillors approved.

“If it is going back up on the playing fields then it is a positive step for the area, it is all we want.

“We are really not happy and we are hoping that something can be done to stop it for the future.”