Money raised from Keswick’s public toilets is being used to pay for a clean-up in the town’s shopping centre.
The 40p-a-visit loos in Bell Close and at Lakeside are owned by the not-for-profit Keswick Community Asset Company (KCAC), which is part-funding “operation dog pee.”
Local family-run business Fell Fresh has been brought in to spray an eco-friendly odour eliminator early in the morning to discourage dogs from wetting pavements and shopfronts.
“I love dogs and so do many of us in Keswick, so I am happy to be involved with this project as the smell does need attention in the busy times of year and when it’s hot and dry,” said Peter Corfield, from the property maintenance company and cleaning product supplier.
Work started earlier this month on the clean-up operation which is also being supported by local businessman Keith Graham.
He has given a £200 donation towards the £500 cost of spraying streets to lessen the odour for the rest of the summer.
“For good or ill, we have become a dog-friendly town and are known for it nationally. This brings some blessings but also some issues such as the smell of dog pee after long periods of dry weather,” said KCAC chairman Tony Lywood.
He added: “Really this should be an Allerdale Borough Council issue.
“Last year they made a donation towards the cost but since they were unable to take this on, we at the Keswick Community Asset Company decided it needed to be done.
“It is our intention to try to continue this but also to try to get Allerdale to help out as well since they are the recipients of the cash from rates and our car parks.
“The maintenance of a clean, well-appointed and sweet-smelling town is so important to our tourist trade.
“Dogs are everywhere in Keswick and as a town if we accept this then we have to deal with the issues that this causes.
“Keith Graham’s intervention and kindly donation made it easy to do.
“There is also a little irony in that we make money out of tourists going to the toilet only so we can try to eradicate the smell of the pee of their dogs!”
