CONNAH’S Quay has never been so ‘run down’, says a local councillor.

Cllr Bernie Attridge is calling for enforcement officers to return to crack down on dog fouling in the central ward.

He told the Leader that at the start of lockdown, enforcement was significantly reduced and now Central Park in particular in ‘absolutely disgraceful’.

Cllr Attridge added: “I asked if enforcement for dog fouling could come back but due to Covid-19 they are still saying they are doing other tasks.

“I’m begging and calling on Flintshire Council to make enforcement officers available. Connah’s Quay is absolutely disgraceful.

“We’ve had signs put up but people have a lot of time on their hands and are walking their dogs more, but I plead with them to pick up their dog mess.

“I’ve never seen Connah’s Quay so run down with dog muck and weeds in the gutter. I appreciate we had litter pickers out daily before this but due to covid it’s not getting done.”

Cllr Attridge said he is being ‘inundated’ with complaints.

He said: “It’s absolutely dreadful. I’ve asked Streetscene and they told me they aren’t enforcing at the moment because they are busy doing other tasks.

“I’m calling for them, now that lockdown is easing, for them to put in the effort and the time into catching these people that just don’t care and are letting their dogs mess everywhere.

“It’s the minority but they need catching and fining so they won’t do it again.

“It’s just as bad in different places. It’s not just Connah’s Quay Central Ward, it’s Flintshire as a whole. But at the end of the day if people know there’s no-one enforcing, they will just carry on.

“The quicker we get enforcement back issuing tickets, the better.”

A spokesman for Flintshire Council said: "Enforcement Officers have been deployed on other work since the outbreak of the virus, including managing the closed car parks and the queues which formed at our Household Recycling Centres when they reopened earlier this month. A decision to recommence full enforcement activities will be made in the coming days."