Bag and bin your dog's mess!

AT the start of Love Parks Week, Liverpool City Council is joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy to call on dog owners across the City to bag and bin their pup's poop!

New research by Keep Britain Tidy has discovered that the amount of dog mess being left by irresponsible owners has increased since the start of 2021; the equivalent of 193 wheelie bin loads across the North West each day.

Since the start of the Pandemic, it's estimated the dog population in the UK has grown from 9 million to around 13 million, and as more and more people added a furry friend to their lives, a less appealing rise in dog fouling has accompanied it.

Liverpool spends around £9.5m a year cleaning up litter, so the Council has partnered with Keep Britain Tidy to tackle litter in the City and change behaviour; with a summertime focus on litter in parks and dog fouling.

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Abdul Qadir, said:- "Our parks are there for everyone to enjoy, but unfortunately some people aren't being responsible when it comes to disposing of their dog's waste. There's been an increase in unbagged dog poo being left on the ground and even bagged dog poo being left hanging from places like railings or trees; which isn't acceptable. As part of our partnership with Keep Britain Tidy, we have an opportunity to change people's mindset when it comes to littering; alongside legal proposals that would see on the spot fines for those who don't comply."

Linked to this, a month long consultation on a draft Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) consultation has also been launched. It would see owners fined for failing to bag and dispose of their dog mess and is in response to over 1,800 dog fouling complaints between:- January 2020 and January 2022.

Love Parks Week is an annual campaign run by Keep Britain Tidy to celebrate the variety of parks and green spaces, from large urban parks to small local playgrounds, as well as encouraging people to value and respect them.

It has been set up to recognise, celebrate and support all the hard work volunteers do up and down the country to maintain and protect them. More information is available at:- LoveParks.Org.

Allison Ogden Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said:- "Anyone who owns a dog knows that they should pick up after them and, with the massive increase in dog ownership over the past 2 years, it has never been more important for every owner to do the right thing and clear up after their pet. The North West's wonderful parks and green spaces should be a safe space for everyone to enjoy; places we can all love; so it's absolutely vital that dog owners in the Region are responsible and bag their dog's poo and bin it."
 

North West commuters could save £730 by cycling to work

CYCLING to work could save commuters in the North West up to £730 each per year, helping households manage expenditure as they navigate the cost of living crisis. This could provide an important saving for many. The cost of travel to work, including fuel prices, is cited as a top concern for 58% of employees, 2nd only to utility bills (73%). But despite these worries, 25% of commuters are not fully aware of the annual savings they could make through the simple transition to cycling. These findings come from research conducted by the Blackhawk Network in partnership with Sapio to mark the 10th Anniversary of Cycle to Work Day.   

People want to get on their bikes... Cycling is gradually becoming the transport method of choice for people up and down the country. And as the average commute is just 5 miles or less, getting in the saddle is more achievable than many might think. In the last year alone, 13% of commuters began cycling to work, and a further 39% are actively considering it.  

However, while cycling is a great way to stay in shape, many people are getting on the saddle because of the rising cost of living. 40% of those who travel to work by car or motorbike, and 82% of people travelling by train, have noticed a significant increase in the average daily cost of travel compared to a year ago. 50% of respondents say they would prefer to cycle to work than spend money on travel. And of those who have started or are considering cycling to work, 69% state this is to decrease travel costs.  

With (39%) of employees considering changing their mode of transport to work, employers need to take note and make it easier for staff to access cycling equipment. Especially given that, as we found earlier this year, 85% of employers agree that they have a duty to support their employees as the cost of living rises. This is where offering payroll benefit Cyclescheme; part of the Blackhawk Network Extras employee benefits platform, can help by saving staff 25% to 39% on a bike and accessories. 

This benefits based support can be a strategic win for businesses that are having trouble persuading staff to return to the office. 52% of employees state they would be encouraged to come into the office more if their employers offered the Cyclescheme as part of their benefits package. 

If you have any thoughts on the issues raided in this report, please do email them to our Newsroom:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.