DOUGLAS Corporation’s parking inspectors are to get their role expanded – to fight litter and dog fouling.
The town hall says the move is part of its ‘commitment to improve quality of life standards in the town’.
The move sees sees the introduction of borough wardens after the role of the car park inspectors was widened to encompass ‘environmental oversight’.
The five wardens will work with the council’s enforcement officers to counter antisocial behaviour such as dog fouling, litter, graffiti and fly tipping.
The wardens become part of the newly formed development and environment team which is located above Douglas Development Partnership’s offices in Victoria Street and now includes the building control section, one function of which is administering the dilapidated and ruinous property register.
The section monitors the appearance of properties around the town to identify buildings failing to meet acceptable standards of maintenance and visual appearance and then works with the owners to rectify any problems.
Heading the team is assistant chief officer (corporate and development) Chris Pycroft, who said: ‘The council views town centre regeneration as its number one priority, playing an active role in the work of the regeneration committee and committing substantial funds to improvement schemes.
‘In support of this it is vital high standards of environmental quality are maintained across the borough. Douglas Development Partnership is also a key player in this, driving much of the design framework for the ‘new-look’ Douglas in collaboration with the council, government and other town-centre stakeholders.’
He added: ‘Against this background it is important we engender a sense of civic pride among the general public. To this end the heightened presence of borough wardens will assist in ensuring the town’s byelaws are observed, and reminding the public that some offences under the Dogs Act and its byelaws and litter offences attract a fixed-penalty notice, with incidences of dog fouling more likely to result in court prosecutions.’
Public works committee chairman Councillor David Ashford said: ‘We believe that with the public’s support, combined with the introduction of borough wardens as part of the council’s reinvigorated development and environment operation, our aspirations for creating a cleaner, safer, greener town can be achieved.’