Beautiful UK seaside village is being plagued by ‘absolutely appalling’ poo problem

When it comes to picture-perfect seaside spots, there are plenty of them to be found in Norfolk.

The East Anglian county is home to William and Kate’s go-to beach (Holkham), as well as Horsey which is famous for its seals, and family favourites like Hunstanton, Cromer, and Great Yarmouth.

But one village that’s also popular with tourists is Caister-on-Sea, which has been hailed as ‘beautiful’, ‘gorgeous’, and ‘lovely’, in reviews on Tripadavisor.

However, the quaint coastal village is currently being plagued by an ‘absolutely appalling’ poo problem, according to ‘fed-up’ residents.

A post on the Caister Parish Council’s Facebook page revealed that there’s been a ‘noticeable increase’ in dog waste being littered around the village lately.

Alongside this, they shared a message for dog owners, urging them to ‘be considerate’ and pick up after their dog ‘EVERY time’.

They also warned about ‘parasites and bacteria’ in the waste, which they claimed would put other dogs and young children at risk.

‘If you believe that dog poop will break down or just wash away, you’re wrong. Dog waste can take up to 12 months to fully break down,’ the post reads.

It adds: ‘When faeces is left lying in years, grassy areas, parks and on pavements the smell can quickly become overwhelming! IT STINKS!’ 

Dozens of locals have responded, agreeing that they, too, had spotted more poop around than usual – and they are well and truly sick of it.

Louise Ribbands said: ‘I noticed yesterday how bad pavements from Westerly Close to the beach were littered with dog mess. It was everywhere.’

Similarly, Diane Pickerly commented: ‘The pavements in the village are very bad recently. I am so fed up with it, I have started to take even more poo bags with me when walking.

‘I shouldn’t have to clear up other people’s dog mess, but neither do I want to walk in it. I always clear up after my dog and dispose of it responsibly.’

Bev Neil branded it ‘lazy’ and ‘disgusting’, as Jackie Walker thought it was ‘absolutely appalling’.

She wrote: ‘The path from the bottom of Second Avenue leading up to Scratby is absolutely appalling. It’s just as if nobody bothers to pick up after their dogs anymore.’

Andrew Cheeseman suggested the village get a ‘poo patrol officer’, as Sam Willet added: ‘It is very horrible, especially with little ones and prams.’

Metro has contacted Caister Parish Council for further comment.

Is dog fouling a crime?

It is illegal for dog owners in the UK not to clean up their dog’s waste in public areas. However, there are a few exemptions, including people who are registered blind or those with a disability and an assistance dog.

Dog fouling in public places in England and Wales comes under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Local authorities are able to take action through Public Space Protection Orders, and this can include a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.

If you fail to pay, the case can be taken to court, where you’d face a fine of up to £1,000.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, similar laws apply under the Dog Fouling Act 2003 (Scotland) and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2011 (Northern Ireland). Fines of £80 can be issued by local councils for those who don’t clean up after their dogs.

How should dog mess be disposed of?

Dog owners should take dog waste bags with them on walks and pick up any mess their pet makes. This, where possible, then goes in dog waste bins.

If there aren’t any around, a general litter bin is fine for small amounts of bagged dog waste. You can also take the waste home and dispose of it in your household refuse bin.

It is recommended to double-bag it before popping it in the bin to reduce odours.

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