Felpham school mums campaign for dog clear-up action

The six mums of pupils at Downview Primary School want the container to be placed around the school's entrance road.

This connects Wroxham Way with the school grounds and a field behind them. The open space is popular with dog walkers.

The constant stream of pets being taken along the unnamed road means that unhealthy and unpleasant piles of dog's mess usually have to be avoided at the start and end of lessons when they walk their children to school.

Two piles could be seen around the entrance on Monday morning. As well as the entrance road, they can often be seen on grass verges in the area. Plastic bags with the faeces inside are a frequent sight as well.

But, in spite of the road's popularity for dog walks, it lacks any sort of bin in which dog owners can put their pets' faeces or even notices asking them to clean up the mess.

Sarah Smith was prompted to start the campaign after her youngest child, Brooklyn (4), fell into a pile of poo.

Brooklyn was on her scooter, tried to avoid the mess but ended up losing her balance and sitting in it.

Mrs Smith said: "It was disgusting. I had to strip Brooklyn of her trousers and shoes in the street.

"I then had to take her into the school to wash her hands and a kind neighbour drove us home. I had to throw away her trousers because they were so badly stained."

Brooklyn attends the school's nursery while her older brother, Bradley (6) is a pupil at the school. Mrs Smith was soon joined by Cathy Cogger, Jane Stevenson, Annette Alderson, Helen Pullen and Kara Griffin in deciding they wanted to see action to improve the unhealthy and unsightly situation.

Mrs Cogger '“ whose three children Charlotte (6) and twins Zak and Ellie (5) '“ attend the school said they were determined to succeed.

"We will fight until we get the bin there," she stated. "We are sick to death with the situation. If there is a dog mess bin there, it will make owners more aware."

The mums, who all live around Downview Road, have made preliminary contacts with Arun and Felpham councils with their demand.

An Arun council spokesman failed to respond to calls from the Observer.