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It used to be easy, but not any more.
Another way for WC to save a few pence....
WC will not empty any new litter bins installed by parish councils.
The following is their logic as sent to a resident...
'Thank you for your email to Baroness Scott, she has asked me to reply on her behalf as I am Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways.
I share your frustration with irresponsible dog walkers and people who generally litter.
I note your comments with regard to the option for town and parish councils to provide their own litter or dog bins. I can confirm that the council’s contractor is also pleased to offer an emptying service for any parish or town that wishes to provide dog waste or litter bins. However, there are many other waste companies that are also pleased to offer collection services.
With regard to your comment on the provision of litter bins when new roads are provided, Wiltshire Council has a statutory duty to ensure adopted highways are maintained at an acceptable standard of cleanliness. When new roads are built these are added to the council’s contracted cleaning areas to ensure any litter is cleared when reported.
The council has introduced many new services to ensure litter, which includes dog faeces, is cleared when reported at an unacceptable standard. The MyWiltshire system ensures reports are quickly captured and passed to our contractor for immediate action. It also allows information on areas to be captured, so the council can identify if problems occur and seek alternative arrangements.
The council currently spends circa £2million on picking up litter from Wiltshire’s streets per annum. In these times of financial constraints this spending could easily be avoided if people simply disposed of their waste correctly, by taking it home. Especially considering dog waste, as it comes as no surprise to any owner that if you have a dog, there will be waste to be disposed of.
With the reduction in funding of the council, services such as litter collection have become reactive in their nature to ensure costs are minimised and a more flexible service is provided to meet the need. Whilst litter bins do have a purpose, their effectiveness is limited. Sadly, the anecdotal evidence is that responsible waste producers will use a litter bin if provided and if not they will take their litter home. Irresponsible waste producers drop litter or dog waste whether a bin is provided or not. It is the council’s experience in town centres that a considerable number of litter bins are provided, but this is where the majority of litter is deposited. Regrettably due to dog waste bins having limited effectiveness the council has to use its resources on more productive solutions. Hence I have to report the council’s funding does not cover the provision of new litter bins. But I will ensure the area is inspected and any dog waste found on highway land removed.
The council will shortly be undertaking a promotion explaining nuisance of litter, which includes dog waste, and I trust this will help in raising the awareness of this antisocial behaviour.
I hope my comments have helped.
Philip Whitehead
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Wiltshire Council
01225 718577'