A DECISION to charge for dog poo bags has been described as “a backwards step” by an East Linton community councillor.

Last month, councillors voted to charge £1 per 50 bags, despite warnings that it would not help the fight against dog fouling.

The issue was again discussed at the Dunbar and East Linton ward’s Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) meeting earlier this month.

Barry Craighead, a member of Dunpender Community Council, questioned if the move to charge for the bags was the right one.

He said long grass and the short daylight hours meant people thought they could get away with not clearing up after their pets.

He added: “I think a problem will arise because they are going to charge for poo bags.

“I think it is a backwards step.” A discussion on charging for poo bags took place in Haddington last month.

Eileen Morrison, head of customer services at the council, told councillors that dog ownership was “expensive and a choice people make”.

It is also thought that charging £1 per pack could bring in revenue of £13,000 a year.

East Lothian Council will become only the fourth local authority to charge for the bags when the charges come into force at the start of next month.

The decision also comes just a couple of months after Dunpender’s community website posted ‘Dog Doos – a resolution’.

The post stresses the positives of dogs but also adds “the very occasional” owner does not clear up after their pet.

It reads: “First of all, the faeces can cause disease, especially amongst children.

“There are many areas in Dunpender where young children play, not only in playgrounds, but on beaches, in parks and woodlands and the quieter streets in our villages and hamlets.

“Next is the annoyance caused to passers-by who need to wash shoes after coming in to contact with dog mess, or who need to spend time cleaning up outside their homes.

“Next is the look of our beautiful places. We live in an amazingly beautiful area – why spoil it by leaving dog dirt around?

“You certainly wouldn’t have it lying around your house!

“Lastly, it is illegal not to clean up after your dog(s) and you can incur a fine.” Jimmy Wilson, community warden, told the meeting that 20 hours had been spent recently tackling the problem in East Linton alone.

He said: “In East Linton, Mill Wynd and the playing field have been getting attention.

“We’ve been doing 7am starts because it is a persistent problem with dog fouling at Mill Wynd and I received a text saying thanks for helping, it seems to have worked.

“There is dog fouling in exactly the same place and we are looking at CCTV coverage.” Anyone caught failing to clear up after a dog can be fined £40, which can rise to £60 if it is not paid within 28 days.

To report a dog fouling offence, call 01875 824305.