Mid and East Antrim weighs £200k dog fouling solution ahead of rates decision

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will give fresh consideration to the purchase of two street cleansing units for dog fouling during the rate-setting process for the next financial year, it has been confirmed.

The proposed purchases were first discussed in private at a council meeting in July, where issues such as cost, maintenance, storage and transport were raised.

Mid and East Antrim’s domestic and business rates will be set in February 2026.

Further consideration of the purchase, along with the projected annual running costs, was proposed by Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Councillor Roy Beggs and seconded by Braid Sinn Féin Councillor Archie Rae.

Councillors also agreed to launch a “targeted campaign” aimed at dog walkers in fouling “hot spot” areas.

The idea of purchasing two dog foul collection and disposal machines was first suggested last October by Ballymena Independent Councillor Lawrie Philpott, and seconded by Bannside Ulster Unionist Councillor Jackson Minford.

At that time, Cllr Philpott said constituents regularly “vent frustration about footpaths not being cleaned as often as needed”.

Figures presented then showed 123 complaints to the council in the previous eight months, with just four fixed penalties issued. This compared to 106 complaints between April and September 2023, and 81 during the same period in 2022.

Cllr Philpott had urged a more “pro-active approach” by the council following the decision to increase fines for dog fouling to £200, warning of “an excessive amount” of incidents in some public places.

Cllr Minford also pointed out that the proposed cleansing units could be used for clearing snow and ice from footpaths. Initial estimates put the cost of operating the machines at around £200,000.