Imagine the scene: a picturesque pathway along by the Kennet & Avon canal at the height of a steamy summer's day.
A toddler eats an ice-cream, but doesn't want to drop any litter or spoil the countryside. He goes over to the rubbish bin to deposit the paper wrapper - only to put his hand into this:
A litter bin filled with dog litter!
This was exactly the story told by one anxious parent to your Focus Team.
It is with remarkable regularity that dog walkers complain about insufficient bins to clear up after their pets, while tourists complain about the lack of collection points for rubbish as villagers complain about the smell.
Local LibDems recently secured a commitment to constantly monitor whether the bins are being emptied on schedule and investigate whether more are needed.
Parish Councillor Andrew Grover said,
"Local residents, businesses and visitors all need to
keep our countryside and streets clean and free of litter. Fellow dog
walkers need to collect and dispose of dog litter properly. The problem
of those not doing so has been
obvious and unpleasant for us all during the recent heatwave."
