No replacement of vandalised dog bins for Derry greenway route residents say ‘littered with dirt’

The Council was responding to concerns raised by dog owners who said they are having to carry their dog’s waste for over a mile to the nearest bin.

There are currently no dog waste bins along the entire stretch of walkway from Templemore Sports Complex to Lenamore - a walkway which spans the entire hinterland of Galliagh - apart from the two at either end of the route.

One local woman who walks her dog along the route every day said that parts of the walkway and the green areas on either side of it are “absolutely saturated” with dog faeces and that cleaning up after her own dog was a “minefield” as she had to navigate piles of dog dirt everywhere you went.

The woman said she has to carry her dog’s waste to either end of the long walkway every day while trying to walk the dog on a lead and urged the Council to look at installing bins in the area.

“It is not right that some people are allowing their dogs to foul everywhere but for those of us who do clean up after them it is a nightmare because of the amount of dog dirt and the lack of bins around here. If there were more bins surely it would encourage more people to clean up after their dogs,” she said.

“You have to careful with your dog on the lead even going into the grass to do their business as they can come out with this dog dirt from other dogs on them and when you go in to bay your’s dog’s mess you can end up with the dirt from other dogs on you yourself. The place is littered with it.

“People here deserve the same facilities as other areas.”

Another local resident raised concerns over the potential hazard of children coming into contact with dog dirt as the weather improves over the coming months.

“There are a lot of young children around Galliagh and they play in the green areas. They need to be cleaned up. If there’s no bins for dog dirt then more people aren’t going to bother to lift up after them,” she said.

The local mother also appealed to those who are allowing their dogs to foul without disposing of their deposits to “wake up” and realise the risk they are putting young people at. “This could be your child who could end up being sick, and whoever is responsible for cleaning the walkway and thee grass here and for dog bins needs to step up as well.”

A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council, which maintains the greenway route and distributes dog bins, said that while other areas were getting more bins, it was not “viable” to replace those previously vandalised in this area.

The spokesperson said that it has “increased warden patrols and is currently installing additional signage around a number of hot spots across the City and District,” and that “the Galliagh Greenway from Templemore Sports Complex to Lenamore is among the areas being focused on”, adding:

“Council recognises that the vast majority of dog walkers behave responsibly and clean up after their dogs. An extensive social media campaign on Council’s corporate and the Mayor’s pages has reminded owners of their responsibilities and the fines in place and major billboards around the City and District have also highlighted that messaging.

“The path is swept regularly and mechanically cleaned every week, however litter and dog bins in the area have been destroyed on several occasions to the point where it was no longer viable to re-erect them. Dog bin provision is being increased in other areas.”

After Councillors agreed last week that furloughed casual staff will be reassigned to assist dog wardens, these returning staff members “will work on the ground to distribute dog foul bags and issue leaflets to the public”.

Anyone who has witnessed dog fouling offences is urged to report it and the Council said “every effort will be made to identify the responsible dog owners”, adding: “This information is treated confidentially.”

Anyone observed failing to clean up after their dog will be issued with an £80 fine.

To make a report to the Council phone 02871253253 or email: [email protected]