DOG owners who don’t clean up after their pets in Farnham Park and surrounding roads are creating a “disgusting daily problem” and blighting the area, according to residents.

James Devas, of St James Avenue, said those who live near the park and especially parents of young children are being driven mad by the issue of dog mess on a daily basis.

He told The Herald: “As you know there are many dog walkers in the area - the park itself is full of excrement - and several of these people let their dogs foul the pavements.

“Almost every day there is also dog mess up and down the road. It seems incredible that people in our part of Farnham have so little regards for fellow residents - I have never lived anywhere with such a problem like this.

“People must do it as they simply do not care and they don’t think they will be caught or punished by the local authority. It is quite disgusting and we are at the end of our tether.”

Mr Devas added many young children live near the park and he is constantly worried about his own toddler coming into contact with dog excrement, which can be highly dangerous for children and can even cause blindness.

“This is a real problem that is blighting the area and nothing is being done,” he continued. “We have spoken to Waverley Borough Council who have promised more street cleaning and the erection of signs on the road - but nothing has happened.

“Bags and bins are available for dog owners at all the park entrances, but some wilfully ignore these and don’t clean up after their animals - because they can’t be bothered and, crucially, they don’t think anyone will penalise them for it.

“The council has to make it clear to local residents that this is totally unacceptable - and unhealthy for our children - and that they will enforce civil penalties to their full extent as a result.”

Responding to Mr Devas’s complaint, Farnham Moor Park councillors Stephen Hill and Andy MacLeod both promised to raise the issue with Waverley.

Mr Hill, a former Mayor of Farnham, said: “This is a subject that has been raised many times over the years. Educating dog owners is notoriously difficult and policing them equally hard.

“I have not been contacted by Mr Devas to date but I will raise the issue with Waverley and find out what they are doing about it.”

A spokesman for Waverley added: “There is a bag dispenser and a secondary bin in the park for dog owners to use. Dog bags are topped up weekly at the St James Avenue entrance and the two bins regularly emptied.

“We have received Mr Devas’s complaint and in response we will inspect the road and the park and install signs this week.”