CONCERNED pupils have launched a petition in a bid to tackle the blight of dog fouling near their school.

Children at Brackenhill Primary School, Great Horton, were inspired to take action after noticing the problem on a snicket close to the school.

Helen Metcalf, head teacher at the school, in Dracup Road, said the matter was brought up by the school council.

Not only did they raise the problem of dogs fouling, but also dogs being let off leads.

And after taking their concerns to the wider school, pupils found it was a worry shared across the board.

Ms Metcalf said children were frightened of being bitten by a dog that was not on a lead, or stepping in dog mess and bringing it on to the playground.

“They wanted to let the council know that it is a problem,” she said.

A petition, with 277 signatures, has now been submitted to Bradford Council.

It reads: “I am writing to inform you that numerous times dogs are fouling in the alleyway, from Bartle Lane, near Brackenhill Park, which is very dirty, pungent and disgusting for the students and parents who are walking to school.

“It is very unhygienic. Owners let the dogs foul on the path and still disobey the ‘no dog fouling’ sign and don’t care if they get a fixed penalty.

“I am concerned with any dogs let loose as students and parents are very scared.”

Ms Metcalf said possible solutions would be wardens going to the snicket to talk to dog walkers, or dog waste bins to be put up.

She said: “I think the problem is that people don’t think they are going to be caught or fined.”

Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton) who has been speaking to pupils about the problem, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting, to think where it is and all the children that have to walk up there.”

She branded it “irresponsible” of people to let their dogs foul without cleaning it up and said she would be taking the problem up.

Ms Metcalf said she was “extremely proud” of pupils for bringing it up.

“They were thinking about other children in the school and other people in the community.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for Environment, Culture and Sport, said “Following a petition received from Brackenhill Primary School last year, our wardens carried out weekly checks to monitor the path and arrange for any fly-tipping and rubbish to be cleared away.

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“We were not made aware of any dog fouling issues, until the latest petition has been received.

“The wardens will work to try address the issues by putting up signage and delivering leaflets, in the local area, which provide information on how to report people not clearing up after their dogs.

“If we get sufficient information or someone is seen by a warden, we will issue a fixed penalty notice.”