A MAJOR investment in dog poo bins across the city has been rejected, despite Conservative claims the bid was ‘sensible and not beyond the council’.
Labour chiefs rejected calls from the Tories to add £30,000 to Worcester City Council’s budget during a meeting at the Guildhall last Tuesday (February 21).
Tory councillors hoped the money would encourage irresponsible dog owners to clean up after their pets.
But the ruling Labour group slammed the proposals and accused the Conservatives of bringing forward ‘ill-thought through’ plans.
Speaking at the meeting, Coun Andy Stafford said: “As a responsible dog owner, there is nothing more frustrating when you can’t find a dog bin when you need one.
“PooWatch is doing a fantastic job in tackling dog mess. However, even they have recorded an increase in the amount of dog mess in the city.”
His calls were echoed by Coun Alan Amos who recently called for a clampdown in ‘Dog Poo Alley’, which leads from Skinner Road and Pitmaston Road to Winchester Avenue and is often used by youngsters and their parents to get to Pitmaston Primary School.
“This is not aimed at the majority of dog owners who do clean up after their pets but those irresponsible owners who don’t pick up or simply refuse to do so,” said Coun Amos.
But council leader Coun Adrian Gregson attacked the proposals and pointed out £30,000 would buy 150 dog bins.
“Where are you going to put them? Do you know? No, because no analysis has been done before you brought this to council,” he said.
“This feels like one of those amendments were it looks like we have too much money so we must go and spend it.
“I don’t doubt dog fouling is a problem but it’s a problem of education and understanding, this is the wrong way to go about it.
“All in all, this is an ill-thought through amendment,” he added.
The proposal was defeated by 18 votes to 15.
