Dear Sir,
Many years ago most people in rural villages had a dog. In those days pedestrians walking the pavement had to have a good eye and be nimble of foot to skip round the dog mess which decorated the pavements.
Fortunately since those days most local dog owners take responsibility for their animals by cleaning up after them, and I am pleased to say that in Heighington and Redworth there are more good dog owners than bad ones.
Yes, there are times when dog fouling is more prevalent than at others, particularly at the bottom of Twinsburn Road, Station Road and the Batts Lane end of Highside when the mornings and evenings are cold and dark and owners stay close to their own front door. (This is not an excuse for them only an explanation) but generally the problem of dog fouling is not as bad as in other towns and villages – but there is room for improvement.
This afternoon I went for a breath of fresh air along Twinsburn Lane, around the back of the farm and onto Highside Road and beyond. The sun had just set and it was chilly but ideal to enjoy the scenery using public footpaths which would take me across fields away from the sound of cars, telephones and ‘e’ mails.
Unfortunately, as I entered Twinsburn Lane, the first off road part of the walk, I was surprised, and dismayed to have to pass a Dog Bin on the right hand side of the lane. The Dog Bin was so full of carefully knotted polythene bags all containing dog excrement that they had spewed over covering the ground beneath the bin. The sight was revolting. Which will even look worse if rats or birds tear the bags. I don’t doubt some of the dog owners will blame the Council for not emptying the bin and they have a point but there is still no excuse for anyone to leave their dog mess in or around a bin that is full – please take it home and dispose of it responsibly.
It is grossly unfair on the owner whose house stands behind the dog bin. They have to pass this mess every time they leave their home. It is unfair on parents who walk their children along the lane for exercise, it is unfair to the Parish Council who spend a lot of money and time improving the environment throughout the Parish, and it is certainly unacceptable to the community of Heighington who take so much pride in their village.
It will be interesting to see if Street Scene clean up the area around this dog bin.  I can understand it if they refuse. They are after all working people with the same reactions to filth as the rest of us.
I would not ask anyone to do something that I would not do and I certainly would not be happy having to reach down to pick up this disgusting pile of filth and perhaps this is the question all dog owners should ask themselves would you pick up piles of dog mess left by others and if the answer is ‘No’ then why should anyone expect Street Scene operatives to do so?
Dog owners, having picked up your dog mess in the first place, the worst of the job is done. If a Dog Bin, or a litter bin for that matter is full, take your waste home.
As always, I am available should anyone wish to discuss this matter further?
Councillor Gerald G. Lee
Heighington & Coniscliffe Ward