In a bid to help curb the dog fouling problem in Tenby, the town council are to approach local organisations to see if they would be prepared to help purchase Robidog dog waste bag dispensers.

Members of the council recently met with Jane and Walter Fankhauser to learn more about the Robidog bins, which come with their own dispenser for 'poop-scoop' bags and are common place around Europe.

Clr. Mickey Folland told last week's council meeting that it had been a "very interesting discussion."

"It was a very impressive and robust piece of equipment, but I feel at over £300 each, the bins would be very expensive for Tenby Town Council who have to raise our funds through the local precept," he said.

"If we had a dozen of them, would we solve the problem, however," he continued.

Clr. Folland suggested that the council look into forming a consortium with other community councils to purchase a larger number at discounted rates.

"We could also look into sponsorship, but Swansea, where these bins were installed as an experiment, experienced awful problems with vandalism, where they kept ripping the rolls of bags off - and at £65 for a box of 30 rolls of 250, how many would we get through in a season?

"It would be very costly."

Clr. Mrs. Kerri Durham said that she had been impressed by the smaller Robidog Junior, which was a bag dispenser.

"This might be the way to go," she commented. "Site a couple of these around town so that people can use the bags. We have to be seen to be doing something."

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, felt that there was still the vandalism problem to overcome, while Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas said that there would be no dog fouling problem if people picked up after their animals.

"It's all down to training and whether people would actually use the bags," she stressed.

"Until people become responsible for their pets, I don't think the Robidog would do much good.

"Responsible dog owners would carry their own supply of bags anyway!"

Clr. Mrs. Brown added that bagged dog mess could be placed in normal litter bins.

"Education of dog owners is the main problem," agreed Clr. Trevor Hallett. "I don't see the need for Robidog bins if ordinary bins can be used."

Clr. Philip Crockford felt that bag dispensers, coupled with awareness posters, near normal bins, could aid in solving the problem.

"Could we not try it as an experiment?" he asked.

"I feel it would be very expensive, even for an experiment," replied Clr. Folland, repeating his suggestion that sponsorship be sought from organisations like the Chamber of Trade and Tourism.

Clr. Andrew Rees pointed out that five Robidog Juniors and bags would cost around £390.

"We haven't got the money set aside in our budget for this year," he said. "It might well be the case of finding sponsorship, because one Robidog Junior would not be enough.

"We would need at least five strategically sited in key areas around the town.

"We haven't got the money and I agree that we should approach organisations like the Chamber of Trade and Tourism, Keep Tenby Tidy, the Civic Society and Tenby in Bloom, to try and keep Tenby the way it should be kept."

"We certainly couldn't afford to stand the cost alone," agreed Clr. Folland.

Clr. Mrs. Durham suggested that the 'poop-scoop' bags could be sponsored.

"The examples we were shown had sponsorship from organisations like the Spanish Tourism Board," she pointed out.

Clr. Mrs. Brown agreed that organisations should be approached to see if they could assist in funding.

"Bag dispensers would help educate people and encourage them to use them," she commented.