FRUSTRATED residents who battled to have their own community space claim irresponsible dog owners are turning it into a cess pit.

Dawson’s Field on Huddersfield Road, Scouthead, has become a new focal point for group activities and school children, backed by supportive helpers, are turning the area into a haven for growing vegetables and plants.

But locals claim uncaring pet owners who let the dogs defecate on the site and causing health risks.

Now in a bid to highlight the problem, Cllr Robert Knotts, who lives at Austerlands, has crafted a large poster to prompt pet owners to remove the faeces.

And the poster has received widespread acclaim on social media from other Saddleworth villages plagued by similar problems with requests for the poster to be placed at problem areas.

Cllr Knotts, chair of Saddleworth parish council, says: “It’s gratifying the poster has been so well received by the wider community.

“Dog faeces carry many problems and if a child who plays where a dog has fouled his can lead to illness. Adults can also be affected. In extreme cases this may result in blindness.”

And he asks: “Do irresponsible dog owners feel they could accept the responsibility of causing a young child or an adult to be blind for life?

“Not only are humans at risk from dog poop so are animals. Public paths criss-cross local farmers’ fields often used by dog walkers.

“Dog mess can cause problems to infect cattle leading to expectant cows aborting calves. One local farmer had three cows out of a herd of 15 lose their calves.

“Failing to scoop the poop is anti-social - and we’ve all at some time, had to step carefully when walking along the pavement and had the obnoxious experience of actually treading in dog mess.

“I have developed a poster to display at the entrance to Dawson’s Field. It gives information about the anti-social and health issues of dog muck.

“It also presents social responsibilities about clearing up and not putting bags in crevices in the walls at the field. Notices currently displayed are too small.”

Joan Sykes, chair of Scouthead and Austerlands community group, helps organise the children’s allotment activities with her husband Paul.

She said: “We wanted bin next to or on field but we have problems because there is a small bin at the bus stop on Huddersfield Road.

“When we go on field to work with the children or ourselves we the community group have to do pooh removal and don't leave bags on field.

“We need a much bigger sign for dog walkers with poor eye sight,” she added.

One local mother threatened to take pictures of offenders and post them on social media and another said: “People seem to think because it's the countryside they can leave the dog mess.

“It's unacceptable and must be cleared up by the dog owners.”

Oldham council direct residents concerned about the problem to their website: https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/200520/dogs/805/dog_fouling.

The link also gives contact details where incidents can be reported.