Bins put in park to stop dog fouling – but then forgotten about

 Galway City Council has introduced a new pilot scheme to tackle the problem of dog fouling in Cappagh Park – but forgot to include the new bins on its waste collection rota!

 It led to the bins overflowing with bags containing dog faeces over the past few weeks.

Two bins were installed on the grounds of the new Knocknacarra Community Centre last month, but were not included on a collection rota due to an oversight.

A Council spokesperson told the Connacht Sentinel that the bins are now included on a collection rota.

Meanwhile, the Council has introduced a pilot scheme in Cappagh Park aimed at “striking a balance between responsible dog owners and the health and safety requirements of people using the playing pitches”.

A dispenser for a new type of pooper-scooper bag – a plastic bag known as a ‘mutt mitt’ – has been erected in the carpark at Cappagh Park.

“You must have dogs on a leash in public parks, so that they are under control. People use the walks in Cappagh Park, at Barna Woods, right down to Lough Rusheen, and some dog owners have been allowing dogs foul on the playing pitches.

“That’s a hazard for people using the pitches, so it’s a matter of trying to find a balance people taking dogs for walks and people using the pitches. We can’t just fence off the pitches.

“So when dogs foul, there are mutt mitts available as part of this pilot scheme to clean up after them.

“A couple of bins were installed within the last month, and due to an oversight, were not included on a collection rota. That has been rectified now,” said the spokesperson.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel