EXCUSES for not having a dog poo bag will be invalid in Townhill as the village now has thousands in dispensers around the park and loch tow path.

With help from Fife Council, Townhill Community Council launched the initiative to crack down on the number of irresponsible dog owners who claim they failed to pick up their dog’s mess because there wasn’t anything to pick it up with.

Ronnie Cowan, chairman of the Townhill Community Council (TCC), dressed up in a dog costume on Monday to launch the scheme.

He said, “We want to keep Townhill clean and free from dog mess.

“Having these bags will give dog owners no excuse to not pick it up.

“The school have also been involved in making signs for the park so the community is behind the initiative.

“Dog walkers are asked to remove only one bag from the dispenser per visit and once used to place it in one of the numerous litter bins already provided throughout the area.

“The bags TCC have chosen are eco-friendly in that once exposed to moisture and oxygen their polymer content breaks down and they become safe and suitable for landfill sites.

“This initiative should ensure our park promotes a safe and friendly environment for children to play and should also ensure all responsible dog owners can enjoy the open spaces and walks on offer.” In April, the Press teamed up with Fife Council to run a Bag It and Bin It campaign aimed at the lazy dog owners treating West Fife’s streets and parks as a toilet.

Garry Hankin, environmental enforcement officer at Fife Council, attended Monday’s launch.

He said, “This is a fantastic initiative. It is going to help massively in keeping Townhill a dog-mess-free zone and will give people the incentive to pick up.

“It is an issue across the whole of Fife so it will be great to see how it works.” Helen Law, Councillor for Dunfermline North, said, “Townhill Community Council are very active and are always coming up with new ways to improve the village.

“I think that this is an excellent idea and we will be looking to see how it works and if it does, hopefully, it will be something we will start to see in different areas.” Fife Council assisted the community council with the funds needed to provide the dispensers, however, due to financial cuts, replacement bags may be an issue.

The community council are appealing for any businesses willing to sponsor them to enable them to buy more bags after Fife Council’s current stock finishes.

Contact Ronnie Cowan by email on ronnie@ronniecowan.co.uk.