DOG walkers could face fines for not picking up their dogs’ mess or keeping their pooches on a lead at locations across Colchester if plans get the go ahead.

Colchester Council first introduced restrictions at Mill Road playing fields, the home ground of Colchester Rugby Club, in 2016 following reports of a spate of dog mess left behind by careless owners.

As part of the public spaces protection order, dogs are banned entirely from being on the pitches and must be kept on a lead if they are being walked on the outskirts.

Dog owners also face fines of £100 if they don’t pick up dog mess.

The council’s policy and public initiatives panel has now called for the order to be expanded to cover all play areas and sports pitches across the borough.

The recommendation, along with a host of other suggestions to encourage responsible dog ownership, will go before the council’s cabinet next week.

In the past two years council officers have handed out 23 fines of £100 to people who did not clean up after their pets.

The fines were dished out to members of the public who either failed to clear up after their animal or breached a public space protection order at Colchester Rugby Club.

Last year, 14 fixed penalty notices were issued for breaches of the Mill Road order.

A report, set to go before cabinet, said: “It was noted there was a current PSPO prohibiting dog fouling across the borough.

“Panel members discussed whether the specific PSPO in force at Colchester Rugby Club could be emulated for play areas and sports pitches across the borough, with similar enforcement and publicity applied.”

The panel has asked for cabinet to agree for the council’s website to be updated to give advice on dog ownership.

It is also calling for a publicity drive to increase public awareness of successful enforcement action.

At the meeting the panel was asked by Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell to consider whether enclosed areas could be installed in park areas where dogs could be let off the lead.

She said agility training could also take place in the areas.

The council’s cabinet will have the final say.