Devizes Town Council is to take cross-party action on the plague of dog fouling in the town, including an ambitious drive to try enlighten dog owners who "couldn’t care less" what their pets leave behind them.

Following last week’s report in this newspaper on the local uproar over rampant dog fouling, both the Devizes Guardians and the Devizes Conservatives have called for an urgent council brain-storming on Tuesday, February 15 as councillors launch a deep clean operation to try solve the problem.

The Devizes Guardians, the majority party on the council, are proposing that free doggy bags are provided through dispensers erected in the most-fouled areas.

The town clerk is expected to be instructed to investigate how many extra waste bins would be needed to accommodate the doggy bags in these areas and how often the dispensers could be refilled.

Residents have suggested to councillors on social media that other tactics are employed, including extending the town’s CCTV coverage to film anti-social dog owners and a “snap and shame” movement to photograph miscreants and expose them as pariahs on social media.

The Devizes Conservatives appear to prefer a widespread information and education programme, with health experts possibly going into schools, to ram home to the current “don’t care” contingent of the community why they should clean up after their dog.

Councillors are to discuss the issue that dogs the town on Tuesday at a meeting of the Community and Civic Resources Committee, to which the public are invited to provide ideas for a solution.

A Devizes Guardians spokesman said: “The current controversy over dogs’ poo in the town might be overcome by the installation of poo bag dispensers in key locations in the town.

“Devizes Guardian Councillors Sarah Bridewell and Jane Burton include Hillworth Park, Brickley Lane play area and the greens among the key locations proposed for these dispensers.

"Mrs Burton noted that other local authorities are deploying these and suggest that they might help at least the forgetful dog owners who leave home without a bag.”

But Conservative councillors feel that the problem is not simply forgetfulness but anti-social selfishness by dog owners who need to be taught the error of their ways.

Conservative councillor Iain Wallis has proposed that the council sets up a task force to consult with the community to seek ideas to solve the problem of dog fouling and that a report for dog strategy is prepared within three months.

Cllr Wallis said: “Some residents have said that putting up dispensers is well-meaning but the only people who will use them will be the people who would normally pick up anyway.

"They feel that most of those who aren’t picking up just don’t care and I agree with that.

“Poo bag dispensers probably are part of the solution but they are not the whole solution, we need to be working on hearts and minds here and getting people to change behaviour which is a very hard job.

“It’s vital that we talk to the community and get them on board as this is going to take everyone to stop it. We need to talk, get ideas, and try different things. Have a competition and get kids to come up with ideas.

“A task group to collect ideas from the community so we can put together a plan which uses multiple approaches to tackle the issue. Poo bag dispensers could be one, as could signage designed by local schools, education, and some enforcement.

"The key is to get community involvement to give whatever we do the best chance of succeeding.

"I don’t see this as a party political issue and I would happily work with Cllrs Burton and Bridewell to put together a comprehensive plan to help our community deal with this unpleasant issue.”