FOUL play at Worcester Woods led two community-minded councillors to take decisive action.
Worcester City Councillors Bash Ali and Elaine Willmore took to the woods armed with litter pickers after a flood of complaints about an overflowing dog poo bin that had created a biohazard.
The bin, located on the edge of Worcester Woods, was full to the brim with a mountain of bagged dog poo piled on top and spilling onto the ground below. After inspecting the area, Coun Ali felt that immediate action had to be taken as the area was busy with walkers, joggers and families out enjoying the sunny weekend.
He said: “People come from all over Worcester and the surrounding area to enjoy our beautiful nature reserve. It was an embarrassment to have a stinking pile of filth rotting away in the heat of the sun.”
Coun Willmore added: “We know this bin is not the responsibility of Worcester City council. Worcester County Council is responsible for the management of Worcester Woods, including responsibility for emptying the bins. However, having seen the state of it, we couldn’t leave it like that – it was a clear biohazard.”
The duo returned armed with litter pickers and protective equipment, and cleaned up the mess themselves. However, having dealt with the immediate issue, Coun Ali – who is Nunnery’s candidate in the upcoming county council elections – expressed concern about the county council’s attitude towards maintaining the area.
He added: “Last year, when a nearby dog poo bin was regularly overflowing, the county council’s solution was to simply take it away. If they take the same approach this time, the bin next to the cafe will be the only place for people to dispose of their dog waste. The inevitable outcome of this will be more dog mess left on the ground or plastic bags tossed into trees and hedges.
“The ancient woodland and country park is a jewel in Nunnery’s crown and we must look after them. The county council can’t just turn its back and ignore the problem – the sheer number of bags we cleaned up clearly demonstrates a need.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “The dog and litter bins are adjacent to Nunnery Wood Sports Centre, and are located well outside the boundary of Worcester Woods Country Park. The county council is not responsible for emptying them.”
