Dog fouling in a park has been slashed by 88 per cent, claims a new survey of “poop and scoop” habits.

District-wide dog control orders introduced last year have dramatically cut the problem of unwanted mess at Roberts Park, Saltaire, said Shipley councillor Kevin Warnes, who campaigned for their introduction.

He called for dogs to be kept on leads in the park after his daughter Grace, then seven, was menaced by an out-of-control pet during a family picnic.

“The district-wide dog control orders came about when I started complaining about the dogs running amok in Roberts Park four years ago and asked for something to be done,” Coun Warnes (Green) said.

“It was a direct result of my daughter having been frightened – parks should be places where parents and children can enjoy the outdoors without such worries. To my amazement, I was told that it was only possible to do something on a district-wide basis and so we ended up with much more wide-ranging progress than I had anticipated.

“Part of this new regime was the new order affecting Roberts Park, where dogs are required to be kept on a lead at all times,” Coun Warnes said.

He said some dog owners had initially objected, but there was plenty of rough grassland nearby where pets could enjoy a good run. “Most people welcomed the new arrangements and most owners seem to have complied, although there is more enforcement required to ensure that everyone respects the new arrangements,” Coun Warnes said.

“In the meantime, a survey of the park carried out recently found that dog fouling has fallen by 88 per cent since the control orders were introduced, a spectacular improvement!”

Coun Andrew Thornton, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Sport, said: "It is great that residents and visitors have noticed this improvement, We introduced dog control orders across the district last year to make sure that everyone gets the most out of our stunning parks and open spaces.”