There’s not room for dogs on Deal Pier – that’s the view of one resident who is becoming frustrated with careless pet owners.

Following the introduction of Dover District Council’s new Public Spaces Protection Order on Monday, July 27, dogs on leads are now entitled to walk along the landmark.

Since then Tony Friend, a keen photographer who walks along the pier two or three times a day, has witnessed a number of incidents.

He said: “I’ve seen dogs wee up the seats, I’ve seen them walk along the seats and I’ve seen a couple of loads of poo.

“There was one woman, somebody had to shout at her to pick it up. She didn’t even have a bag, she was just going to leave it there.

“I’m not against dogs but there’s not room for them on the pier.

“Something’s got to be done now before it gets too bad.”

To keep the peace with the public and anglers, Deal Dog Community, which has almost 1,000 members, produced a set of rules for dog owners using the pier, which were been passed by the council’s Environmental Team and also Dover Property Services.

They ask that people ensure their pets have been to the toilet before entering the pier and that they clean up after them, with waste bags available from the attendant’s office if needed.

Despite their best efforts, the attendants who man the landmark are being forced to pick up the pieces for careless down owners. They are now keeping a logbook of incidents.

One attendant, who Kent Online is not naming, explained that if there is an episode, it can involve several trips up and down the pier to get bags or disinfectant, which for some of them is a struggle.

He also highlighted the fact the council has provided a new dog bin at the entrance of the pier but some people are still using the normal bins on the pier, which the attendants have to empty.

A Dover District Council spokesman said: “We continue to work to address issues of dog fouling across the district, and we would remind dog owners to pick up after their pets.

“We do regularly clean the pier, and there are litter bins along the pier and a dog bin and we would urge people to use them.

“However, we will look into this matter. We would stress that it is an offence for any person in charge of a dog not to pick up after their pet.

“DDC Enforcement Officers do patrol across the district, and where they witness such offences, we will take appropriate enforcement action.”

For more information, or to report offenders or request a patrol, visit www.dover.gov.uk/dogfouling