'Litter and dog mess destroy beauty spot'
0 Comments | Gloucestershire Echo, The, Mar 5, 2010 | by Caroline Fisher
A TOURIST village in the Cotswolds is being overrun with dog mess and litter.
That is the view of crusading Bourton-on-the-Water resident Jenny Coaker who says problems have escalated since people moved into the new Bloor Homes’ estate.
She says an increase in people living at the Bourton Chase development streets in the village are strewn with bottles, sweet wrappers and dog fouling.
She called for businesses that sell alcohol and confectionery to sponsor new litter bins and for the parish council to provide more dog bins.
Jenny, who lives at the top of The Avenue, which she claims is one of the litter hotspots, told Bourton Parish Council: “The amount of litter and dog mess is unbelievable.
“We have 87 dwellings in Bourton Chase and they don’t come without dogs.
“Today, from my office window I saw three people blatantly let their dogs go to the toilet and they didn’t pick it up.
“Down The Avenue, between the primary and main school the amount of mess is incredible and children shouldn’t have to walk through that.”
Jenny, who works on Bourton Business Park, next to Bourton Chase and Kingsmeadow estates, said general litter also blighted The Avenue, a main route for residents and visitors.
“People are coming back from town dumping their takeaway packets and bottles,” she said.
“Why can’t supermarkets like the Co-op, Spar, garage and takeaway companies, who all profit from selling sweets, wrappers and alcohol bottles take some responsibility for the litter and sponsor some bins? “The vet and Countrywide could also sponsor dog bins.
“In Birmingham, people sponsor roundabouts so they can cut costs.” At the meeting, Parish council chairman Bryan Sumner said: “We have been doing something about dog mess.
“We are concerned and want to make sure that’s driven down – it’s a punishable offence and if you catch someone they can be prosecuted.”
But Jenny added: “Do you want me to go out and get my nose punched? “It’s better to have a leaflet drop to the new houses and educate them first.”
Parish council footpaths and traffic committee chairman Chris Short said: “We do have about five requests for dog litter bins, at Meadow Way and Kingsmeadow and the other area is Greystones Farm, so there’s an interest and a need.” But just having bins doesn’t mean people are going to pick up dog mess or litter. We could write to the primary and secondary schools to ask for it to be mentioned in assembly.”
The parish council is also organising a litter pick on March 27.
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