Signs will be placed in the national park to publicise the scheme. Photo: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

National park rangers are to be given the power to issue fixed-penalty tickets to litter louts and dog owners who refuse to clean up after their pets.

The move, by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, follows reported problems of anti-social behaviour at two beauty spots in lower Wharfedale.

Rangers will team up with Craven District Council’s environmental-protection staff in the pilot scheme, believed to be the first in England, and be trained to tackle the problems.

Currently the district council has powers to issue fixed penalty notices of £75 to people who leave litter behind and £50 notices to dog owners who fail to clear up their pets’ mess. Offenders face fines of up to £2,500 and £1,000 respectively if they decide to ignore the notices and are taken to court. All the money is reinvested in the fixed penalty scheme.

National park rangers Phil Richards and Richard Mainman will take part in the scheme.

Loup Scar on the River Wharfe is one area affected by litter

Mr Richards said: “As rangers we speak to many people during the course of a year about litter and dog mess and the vast majority are very co-operative and responsible in their attitudes. But, on occasions, we do experience problems with persistent dog fouling and with litter louts who leave their disposal barbecues and rubbish behind, particularly in Grass Wood and Loup Scar.

“We are hoping that having the power to issue fixed penalty notices ourselves will provide us with an additional and last-resort option for those thoughtless few who have such an impact on the National Park and spoil the enjoyment of others who love its special qualities.

“We think this is the first time a national park in England and a district council have joined forces to tackle these issues. We receive a number of complaints to the national park authority and generally, in the past, we have just had to pass these on to the district councils. This now gives us another option rather than just appealing to an individual’s conscience.

“Initially we will be doing one or two patrols with the environmental protection team then we will be out on our own”.

If the pilot scheme is a success, it could be extended to cover other areas of the national park, he said.

Andrew Colley, the YDNPA’s member champion for conservation of the natural environment, said: “I hope this new initiative will help to solve the problem we have with thoughtless dog owners – some of whom don’t clean up after their dogs while others leave plastic bags containing dog mess on footpaths and in dry stone walls.”

Councillor Paul Whitaker, the district council’s lead member for the environment, said: “Most people are very responsible and take great care with their litter and their dogs. It’s only the minority who cause a problem but even so, littering and dog fouling can blight an area.

“Working with YDNPA rangers is a match made in heaven, giving us more people on the ground to help stamp out nuisances such as these.”

Any member of the public wishing to complain about dog fouling or littering should contact Craven District Council’s environmental protection team on 01756 706355. Where a fixed penalty notice is issued, the council will follow up with letters and legal action as appropriate. The council will also join YDNPA on patrols depending on the nature of complaints received.