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 began his week on Monday at 9.30 attending a briefing in Liverpool with the Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and other personnel; it finished at about 12.30.   Then back home to read through 13 emails and deal with several requests for assistance from residents.  Then on to the Children’s and Young People’s Committee meeting from 6.00 until 8.00

On Tuesday morning, following an invitation to Mersey Waste from the Netherlands Government, John and members from other Merseyside Councils, together with a senior manager from MWDA, arrived at Schipol Airport at 09.00am (UK time), where they were greeted by the Economic Ambassador.  This visit was to gain first hand knowledge of a leading-edge waste transfer station which included a state-of-the-art bio conversion unit.  During the afternoon, the British guests had a presentation on the Dutch Waste policy.  After that they were given a talk on how “Energy from Waste,” is used to supply electricity and heat to the City of Amsterdam. 

But, lest there be doubts,  this was no ‘jolly’ – it was very much a working visit with the British visitors arriving back the same day some twelve hours after leaving Liverpool.  Early to bed!

Wednesday began at 09.30 with a full day at a Licensing 2003 Committee – which finished at 1700.  Then on to a ‘Funds for You’ meeting which I left at 7.00pm – and then home to answer emails and telephone messages.

Thursday – yes, more of the Licensing Committee in which three taxis were inspected and they met a number of prospective taxi drivers.   Home at 4.30pm to pick up the paper work for a 5.30pm meeting attended by  Council Officials and elected Members to discuss the waste strategy for the coming months.   Home at 6.30pm to answer emails and telephone enquiries

Friday, answered Emails and telephone messages, raised petition,

Saturday and Sunday, leafleting in Moreton.

And for Adrian:  Also a very busy week, but still feeling the effects of ‘Man flu’.

Monday:  Ploughed through the weekend’s emails and phone messages.  Then spent time reading up for the evening’s meeting of the ‘Children & Young People’ s Committee in the Town Hall at 6.00pm.  

Tuesday, dealt with emails, phone calls, & case-work during the day and went on to the Anglican Cathedral in the evening for the Merseyside Police Awards ceremony.    This was a wonderful event in which our Wirral Police took a great number of awards (that is reported elsewhere on the website).

Wednesday:  Had to give apologies for absence from the Central Park Committee as one of my sons had a hospital appointment at Arrowe Park after breaking a thumb in one of the more genteel contact sports.  Glad to say he’s not letting a little thing like that slow him down.  Home later to deal with emails and phone calls – then to the ‘Funds for You’ Committee at 6.00pm.  After that, took the rest of the evening off as we had private visitors.

Thursday:  Merseyside Police Authority at 1.30 - and for the afternoon.  Back quickly for an evening address for Councillors by our professional officers at 5.30 followed at 6.00pm by a meeting of the Council Excellence  Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  On from that to a Management Group Meeting of one of Wirral’s local charities on which I serve as a volunteer.

Friday:  Back to the Merseyside Police Authority for an ‘Away Day’ at which aspects of policing during the next several years were discussed in depth with first class presentations by Senior Managers of the Police Authority and Senior Officers of the Police Force.  A taxing and highly informative meeting.  Home before 5.00pm in time to answer emails and phone messages – and then, a bit of home decorating as the house has been sadly neglected in my two years as Deputy Mayor and then Mayor

The weekend will be devoted to more decorating with a few hours off to deliver Labour leaflets.

Next week?  It looks as though it’s going to be busier even than this.

We hope this small note of what Councillors do in a fairly typical week will be of some interest and answer the request made by a number of our regular readers.  

Incidentally since our website changed to its new format we have been delighted to be told how well it is received.  Do please keep on sending us your views.  We do not of course publish or respond to anonymous comments.