Since our report, below, John has received confirmation from Street Scene that the appalling mess left by inconsiderate dog owners – including the huge quantity seemingly dumped by a single dog owner – will be cleaned up early this coming week, hopefully on Monday or Tuesday.  Meanwhile John is pushing for an additional bin to be put in place so that children attending the newly rebuilt school, and young mums with toddlers, will not have to pass the   stinking mess each day.  Not that the absence of a bin can ever be an excuse for this sort of behaviour – and we emphasise that it is not more than one or two people who are doing it.  The vast majority of dog owners have been using the bins in the park or taking it away with them for disposal. 

Original report – 1st July 2010 

Seacombe Labour Cllr John Salter

Some selfish culprits even throw it over the wall into a hideous stinking heap with masses of flies ever present.  Others adorn the hedges with it by dangling their used bags of dog mess as they are too selfish to dispose of it hygenically but just leave it to offend all who use the footpath. 

This filthy pile of dozens of bags of poo has seemingly been thrown over the newly repaired wall by just one offender judging by the similarity of the bags. The culprit should be easy to trace if the Lane is watched.

John said:  ‘I am taking this up with the Council and I am referring it to the Police and the ASBO Team.  The people doing this may think it’s smart but do they realise just how heavily they can be fined?  I realise some will say ‘Well why doesn’t the Council provide us with bins?’  The answer to that is that if they walk a few yards further there are bins in the park – which more responsible dog owners use.  There is no excuse for this; a tiny minority are too lazy to walk a few yards to the bins already there or take the stuff home with them and dispose of it properly.  Why should responsible dog owners be viewed in the same light as these people and why should the Allotment Holders or young mums and their children have to put up with it?’ 

Just one of dozens left by an irresponsible dog owner to dangle from the fence.

 

   

   

There must be a hundred or so similar examples throughout the lane.

 

John points to the enchroaching bushes that were getting in the way of mothers with prams and push-chairs.

Cllr John Salter’s quick action saw to it that overhanging bushes, which were impeding pedestrians, were trimmed back.  There is a continuing problem with invasive Knotweed along the perimeter fence. 

The worst of the intruding bushes are now trimmed back - but see the very rapid growth of the Japanese Knotweed in the foreground.

 John is chasing that up, too.

John, left, and Adrian at one of the raised beds - showing the plaque Adrian had the honour of unveiling when he was the Mayor

Cllr John Salter, left,  called in to visit Love Lane Allotments today.   

First on his list was the Community Plot.  This is a venture which lets disabled people continue their gardening interests - and it also provides an introduction to gardening for pupils from some of our local schools.  

The construction material for the plot – timber, fencing, slabs etc. - was paid for through grants from ‘People & Places’ and the Area Forum.    Timber for the raised beds, and most of the other materials, were sourced from local businesses.   But because of what was being done for the community all the local traders gave hefty discounts – and a lot of valuable help and advice.  There is also a secure steel shed visible at the rear to store tools. 

The generosity of local businesses is shown on the plaque

Adrian, a recent plot holder at this site, commented on the first class way the allotments are run:    

“The Love Lane Allotments are well managed, with a first class site secretary and committee.  I’ve recently taken over a plot that needed a lot of work but it’s rewarding to see it coming into good order with plants already growing  -  it was well worth the wait.  The plot tenants are a friendly company of people and new plot-holders can bank on having plenty of advice from the experienced gardeners.”      

Totally overgrown a few weeks ago this plot is now nearly ready for seedlings to be transplanted from the greenhouse.

The invasive Japanese Knotweed has become a problem. John is going to investigate to see whether help can be found to have it eradicated.

John also spotted the overgrown hedge that is intruding into the footpath bordering the site. He is going to ask the Council to have it trimmed back.