Complaints over overflowing dog bins in Wotton (From Gazette Series)

Complaints over overflowing dog bins in Wotton

9:20am Saturday 4th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A WOTTON resident is claiming that dog bins in the area are not being emptied and giving dog owners a bad name.

Tracey Jotcham says that Wotton’s two bins have been left so full that bags of excrement are being piled around the base of the bins.

"It’s disgusting, particularly during the recent hot weather. It’s a real health hazard," said Mrs Jotcham.

"The dog bins in the area are supposed to be emptied every week, but it is obvious that the bin up by the Blue Coat School hasn’t been cleaned out for ages.

"I am a responsible dog owner and always clean up after my dog, as are the majority here in Wotton, but we don’t get any support and we are all getting a bad name, especially from the visiting hillclimbers who don’t even live in the town. It’s absolutely ridiculous."

Mrs Jotcham has also spoken out against suggestions that dog owners should be banned from the green area of The Chipping, as she claims it is a popular meeting place for dog owners who have few other places to go.

"There are so few areas available for us dog owners to meet up in nowadays," she said.

"This is a market town and animals have historically gathered wherever there is grass. If they are looking for ways to kill off tourism then this one way to do it.

"Visitors often bring their dogs and rest here. Just where would they be able to go exactly?"

A Wotton Town Council spokesman said that some parents had expressed concern about the dangers to children playing on the grass.

"The land actually belongs to the Town Trust, but the council will certainly be discussing ways to keep the area cleaner for all of its users," he said.

"No decisions have yet been made, although the issue was brought up at the recent town council meeting.

"We are not being precipitous, but we do have to be much more careful these days."

A Stroud District Council spokesman said: "This bin is emptied weekly and as far as we are aware no collections have been missed. This is the only complaint we have received this year and it may be a result of more people walking their dogs in the better weather.

"We will keep an eye on the situation and if it becomes apparent that a larger bin is needed, we will be happy to install one."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)