WEST Devon residents are being urged to report persistent dog fouling incidents to the borough's dog warden.

The appeal came at this week's environment committee meeting, when borough technical officer David Arscott said local knowledge was vital to help catch offenders.

Mr Arscott stressed it was only a minority of dog owners who caused the problem.

He said: 'The foot and mouth crisis caused major problems and put pressure on built-up areas, but the majority of people responded very well and all credit is due to them.

'If the responsible attitude can be maintained post-foot and mouth something positive will have resulted from a tragic situation.'

At one stage, environmental services was receiving 100 calls a day with queries over foot and mouth restrictions and two officers gave additional support to ensure all designated areas were being effectively policed.

Nick Payne, head of environmental services, said reports from members of the public were treated in confidence and details of any informant were not passed on to parish councils.

Cllr Caroline Keane, vice-chairman of the committee, felt identification would be helpful so that people knew when the dog warden was around, but Mr Arscott felt a high profile would negate the positive side of people never being sure if he was in the area.

The current dog warden scheme is due to end its initial three year period — for which funding was guaranteed — on March 31 2002.

There are currently 16 parishes participating at an annual cost of £12,000, funded 50/50 between the borough and parishes.

Last autumn a proposal to extend the scheme was deferred by West Devon Borough Council for 12 months due to budgetary considerations.

The committee was told the alternatives were to either introduce the dog fouling scheme across the board and make the warden a full-time post or to continue as at present.

It was recommended that participating parishes — and those likely to be interested in the future — be surveyed to ascertain how they thought the scheme was working and how it may be progressed.

Robin Pike, mayor of West Devon, suggested it would be more sensible to have a joint enforcement officer covering offences such as fly tipping and illegal car parking, as well as dog fouling, to be funded by all the agencies concerned. This would also provide more manpower.

His proposal will be put to the next West Devon partnership committee meeting.