A RENFREWSHIRE woman who says she is “trapped in filth” is rallying residents to sign a petition demanding changes to the dog fouling law.

Patricia Easdon, 52, fears for her and her family’s health after tenants who live in a nearby flat in Davaar Drive, Paisley, have been allowed to leave mess from their two dogs all over their front garden.

But as the garden – which Miss Easdon has branded a “swamp” – is private land, Miss Easdon says there is nothing her or anyone else can do to stop it.

The mum-of-three and grandmother-of-two runs a cancer support group called Combat Cancer and can no longer have clients round because of the conditions she is living in.

Meanwhile, she has had to discuss with her family whether she can have her two young grandchildren over to stay anymore over fears for their health.

Miss Easdon has now decided enough is enough and has begun to gather hundreds of signatures in a bid to change the law on dog fouling on private land in residential areas so the council may be given powers to take action.

The Scottish Government has said responsibility for dog fouling lies with local authorities and it is for them to determine how they  interpret the legislation, but Renfrewshire Council has said as the complaint relates to private land in this case, it would be a matter for Holyrood.

Miss Easdon said: “I am trapped in filth. I have tried to contact the landlord [of the flat], MPs, the Provost, the council, environmental health, but there is nothing they can do.

“I cannot open my windows. I am being forced against my will to live in the most squalid and filthy conditions. The front garden must have 40 or 50 piles of excrement in it and I live above this swamp.

“I also run a cancer support group and can no longer invite clients here as there is too much of a risk of infection for them. I am fighting with everything I have to get this sorted out.

“My neighbours and I have had a fantastic response online and with the paper petition and I can guarantee we will not be the only people who are being subjected to this disgusting lifestyle.”

More than 150 people have signed the change.org petition, while hundreds more signatures have been secured on the paper version.

But Miss Easdon will need 10,000 signatures before the matter is acknowledged by the Scottish Parliament, and she’ll need 100,000 before it is debated in Holyrood.

Miss Easdon added: “I have got all the time in the world. I will keep going until I have got the basic human right of living in a clean environment, which is at the moment being denied to me.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “As laid out in the provisions of Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003, responsibility for dog fouling rests with local authorities, and it is for them to determine how they interpret this legislation.”

A council spokesman added: “Council officers have visited this location and spoken to the resident. As the complaint relates to private land there is no enforcement action we can take under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003.”

To view the petition visit here. 

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