DAWLISH Town Council may soon have powers to tackle environmental crime in the community.
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 means it will be able to prosecute or issue fixed penalty notices to those who drop litter, fly post, daub graffiti, make excessive noise, fly tip or abandon vehicles. In addition, those who flout the law in relation to a number of dog offences can be controlled by a new system of dog control orders replacing previous byelaws. The dog control orders can be made by town councils to cover land in their area. The offences that can be enforced include fouling by dogs, keeping of dogs on leads, the exclusion of dogs and limits on the number of dogs that can be 'walked' by any one person. Dawlish Town Council will decide if it wants these new powers at a meeting in June. Town clerk John Winchester said: 'The next step for this council is to consult with the public to make sure that they want them to accept these new responsibilities. 'Consultations with the two principal authorities, Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council, also need to take place to make sure that the strategy moves forward correctly.' Mr Winchester said that if the council and public wanted to adopt the new strategy then waterfowl wardens Derek Porter and Julian Lawley will be trained for enforcement purposes in accordance with the Act. If the town council decides to do this, revenue from fixed penalty notices can be used by the council how it sees fit. Town councillor Hazel Percy said: 'It is a good idea to devolve powers to the local councils other than Teignbridge or county. 'The only thing I am concerned about is the cost, but I think, overall, that it is a jolly good idea and will show townsfolk that we are doing something.' A member of the public said: 'These powers are something that the town council needs. Hopefully the money they will make from issuing fixed penalty notices will be put to good use.'