Attempts to get dogs banned from sports pitches and children’s play areas in the Borders will now be considered by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).
The recent Scottish Borders Council full session saw members agree Kelso councillor Tom Weatherston’s motion to have dogs banned from such areas in an effort to halt fouling problems should be sent to CoSLA, which has been asked to write to the Scottish Government on the issue.
When Mr Weatherston’s motion came before SBC last year it was met with sympathy, but was declared incompetent after council officers took legal advice.
He told The Southern this week: “The dog fouling act says a dog can foul on any open space as long as the owner picks up, but that does not allow for the dog which has ‘the runs’ and the owner just can’t pick it up.
“For that reason I and many others feel sport pitches and children’s play areas should be totally free of dog fouling.
“I’m not looking to ban dogs from parks or open spaces, just where sport is played and round children’s play areas.
“I accept it still has to be policed, but just now no-one has powers to stop dogs fouling these areas, not even people running them.”