Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, visited pupils at St Paul’s School, Coven to congratulate them on their efforts to raise awareness of dog fouling along their route to school.
Gavin was contacted by concerned Coven resident Darren Taylor who asked for his support on this issue and with the school to raise awareness. The school ran a competition to design signs raising awareness of dog fouling, especially on the footpaths surrounding the school, with the winner having their sign made by Mr Taylor’s company, UK Safety Store.
After meeting pupils who took part in the competition, Gavin presented the winners of the top placed designs with certificates and showed the winning sign to children during one of their weekly achievement assemblies. First place went to Lucy Whatmore from year 4 who will have her sign by Mr Taylor’s company and won a polaroid camera for her poster. The two runner ups were Benjamin Smart and Kerys Jones, both in Year 3.
After meeting the children Gavin commented: “It is really wonderful to see all the hard work that pupils have put into this competition and it was brilliant to meet all the children that took part. I am grateful for Mr Taylor who came up with the idea, who will kindly make the sign at his Wolverhampton factory. Dog fouling is an extremely serious and unpleasant issue.
“Not picking up after your dog is not just an issue of aesthetics, but of public safety, with dog fouling known to create infection and blindness in children. I am glad to see that the children of Coven are not only aware of this danger, but are also highlighting its importance to some of the less responsible adults in the village.”