A town council plans to spend at least £1,000 on two dog bins, despite protests over the cost.

New Romney mayor Patricia Rolfe said the highly visible red bins were needed to combat the constant problem of dog fouling.

But the vote was only narrowly won when some colleagues complained of the cost with one, Cllr Michael Cox, saying alternatives could be bought for £82 each.

The red bins are for The Greens in Littlestone and meant to be especially recognisable to visitors to the area.

The move follows regular complaints by locals about dog fouling.

“What are the residents going to think? It is at a bad time of austerity for people losing their benefits and we are saying spend £1,000 on dog bins” - Cllr Cox

But Cllr Cox told a town meetin: “The cost involved is disproportionate.

“There are already 13 bins in The Greens. It is a question of diminishing returns.”

He argued smaller bins on poles would cost £82 each and this investment would be for a minority of people who would not clear up after their dogs anyway.

He added: “What are the residents going to think? It is at a bad time of austerity for people losing their benefits and we are saying spend £1,000 on dog bins.”

The red bins are for dog mess only and are to replace two of the 13 general purpose black litter bins on the mile-long Greens.

These are used for both litter and dog mess.

The cost of the two new bins would be at least £500 and the council has budgeted £1,200 for them.

Cllr Michael O’Neill said: “It is important the council is sending out a message that it is taking notice of people’s concerns but this appears to be a complete waste of money.”

Fellow councillor Pip Metcalfe said: “We should put money aside for this but not £500 a bin.”

Cllr Anthony Rodriguez added: “People who are prepared to pick up their dog’s mess will walk around looking for a bin anyway.”

Councillors voted six against six on whether to buy the bins but the decision to purchase was passed by Cllr Rolfe’s casting vote as mayor.

She said: “I have been a councillor for 13 years and at every single town meeting the issue of dog fouling has been raised.

“If you talk to other councils it’s an issue. We are sending out a message that we are answering concerns about dog fouling.”

She added that the town council was also trying to get a PSPO (public spaces protection order) as a method of banning dogs from Fairfield Road Recreation ground, meaning no dog bins would be needed there at all.

Deputy mayor Peter Cole said: “We need to be seen to be doing something and these bins are substantially stronger.”

He said they were more able to withstand seaside conditions, meaning, for example, strong winds.

The meeting heard the red bins were already being used by Shepway and Dover District councils.