A NEW pilot to tackle dog-fouling has been set up in Dunfermline after Fife Council received more complaints from the town about the issue than any other place in Fife last year.

The Just Bin It campaign has been launched to urge dog owners to clean up after their pets after 1,277 dog-fouling complaints were made across Fife, with the highest number from Dunfermline.

A number of dog-fouling and litter hotspots have been identified throughout the town with promotional videos on social media, new signs, banners and pavement stencils being used to raise awareness and to encourage people to 'Just Bin It'.

Safety community officers are to increase patrols in hotspots with anyone caught not cleaning up after their pet or dropping litter set to face an £80 fine.

The council has identified nine dog-fouling and six litter hotspots in Dunfermline. The dog-fouling hotspots include Dunfermline Cemetery, Milesmark Primary School and Pittencrieff Park. The High Street, Pilmuir Street and Townhill Road are plagued with litter.

Councillor Pat Callaghan, executive spokesperson for environment and transportation, said: "We know the majority of residents take a real pride in their area but we’re targeting a small group of people who act irresponsibly and we’re asking them to 'Just Bin It'. This approach has already had great success over in West Dunbartonshire. I’m sure if we all get behind the campaign we can make it work in Dunfermline and then roll it out to the rest of Fife.

Cllr Margaret Kennedy, chair of the safer communities committee added: “Any resident survey we carry out always highlights dog fouling and littering as major problems. Earlier this year a number of teams across the council came together and created our Safer Communities Team. We now have 32 officers working throughout Fife tackling anti-social behaviour including dog-fouling and littering.”

If dog-fouling and litter is a problem in your area, you can get in touch with the council to tell them when and the where to catch the culprits on: 03451 55 00 22.