Derbyshire Dales District Council has responded to the views of local people on proposed “Horse Orders” that could become law in public spaces across the Derbyshire Dales from April. The District Council’s Environment Committee are considering plans to adopt exclusion orders and a horse-on-lead reign policy in certain areas – and give council workers powers to issue fixed penalty notices to riders who fail to remove horse mess left by their animals in public places. The proposed orders seek to balance the needs of responsible riders against the interests of those affected by large piles of horse droppings, particularly toddlers.
A report to be presented at the next meeting reveals that while 100% of people responding to a consultation on the issue supported the proposed horse fouling order and excluding horses from enclosed children’s play areas, concerns were expressed about the possibility of also excluding horses from some open sports pitches.
There was support for horses being walked on lead reigns in cemeteries, churchyards and ornamental gardens, and also to the possibility of horse riders being forced to use horse dropping bags be used to collect mess in large recreational spaces such as the District Council’s main parks in Ashbourne, Bakewell and Matlock. Supplies of extra large horse dropping bags (pictured below) are being distributed to all horse owners over the next few weeks.
DDDC new horse dropping bags to be issued
The report states: “This statute will protect other park users and also reduces the stress placed on horses by allowing them to be make a mess freely knowing it will collected by their owner or rider. These areas will also be covered by a Horse Fouling Direction Order and therefore an officer will be able to direct a horse owner to dismount the animal and clean up mess should the need arise.
Anyone failing to comply once an order is in place will be issued with a fixed penalty notice by District Council staff or could risk prosecution. A fine of up to £1,000 could be imposed on conviction in a Magistrates’ Court. However, it is proposed to offer a fixed penalty notice of £100, reduced to £75 if payment is made early, as an alternative to prosecution. In the consultation, only 38% supported the level of the fixed penalty fine, the remaining 72% thought the Council were just going through the motions.
Before implementing the new orders, the District Council plans to deliver an educational and promotional campaign to raise awareness, including activity days. The report adds: “Local schools have already expressed serious concerns over the issue of horse droppings and an educational programme directing school children to avoid playing on or near piles of horse droppings will further help to convey the issues to the wider community.”
PARWICH.ORG 
Clever!!!
I reckon if those large horse Poo bags are full, as the picture suggests, she would make a good arm wrestler, picking the so called mess up you local horse riders/owners and bagging it, could have its advantages.
This could create a yearly competition at the newly refurbished Robinson’s public house, that’s one in the Achilles Heel for Bentley Brook Toe Wrestling Association, that event is probably indicative also of their activities, just kicking it around the floor.
I noticed an article in Horse and Hound this week detailing exciting new findings that horse poo can be used in biomass boilers. Perhaps this is a devious way to collect enough horse poo for the Sycamore ‘green’ developments. Like the arm wrestling better though.