"BUSINESS Week" in Ledbury will have nothing to do with commerce and everything to do with dog fouling.

There will be informative stickers and posters, perhaps sponsored by local vets, and a mass public clean-up, in time for the half-term holiday in October.

The need for such a campaign comes from the fact that the town council only has a few volunteer dog wardens and Herefordshire Council only has one for the entire county.

But several town councillors believe the anti-fouling message will fall on deaf ears, - leading to sharp exchanges at a council meeting last week.

As complaints rise over dog fouling in town, including at a recent PACT meeting, the agreement is to run a promotional campaign in the run up to the October half-term holiday, with a public "pick it up" session to follow.

Cllr Chris Ridler, one of the organisers said: "I do think this is an area where we have to do something ourselves."

But Cllr Martin Eager, chairing the meeting of the town's environment and leisure committee said: "What we are trying to do is stop anti-social behaviour; but you will not. You are not going to educate or change those responsible at all. We can try and embarrass them, but these same people will carry on, letting their dogs do what they have been letting them do for decades."

But Cllr Keith Francis spoke out at what he saw was a negative response from the chair.

He said: "People are trying to be positive and pro-active about this problem. We have a campaign to promote awareness of this problem. This is a very positive opportunity to deal with a problem that is endemic throughout this country."

Cllr Annette Crowe, who was instrumental in bring back Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting to Ledbury, said: "I agree it has to be a positive initiative. Dog waste is dangerous to a child, because it carries disease, and being negative is not the way forward. We can't sit back and watch the town pile up with poo."

She added: "This situation has also been brought up at a PACT meeting. We are just trying to do our best.

"There is a lot of anger about the owners who seem to be unable to recognise their responsibilities for picking up after their dogs."

In recognition of this ongoing problem, the town council has, for many years, offered free plastic "poop scoop" bags to anyone who calls in at the offices in Church Lane.

One thing is certain, however, the problem is not going away.

Cllr Derek Durham said: "The Walled Garden is bad at the moment, and so is the Closed Churchyard."

Cllr Tony Bradford said: "This has been going on for decades, and we have to do something practical, like start prosecuting people."

But this involves putting together a detailed log of offenders and/or catching them in the act.

Details of Business Week will be announced nearer the date.