Kentish Express Ashford & District
Litter Pickers on a mission to clean up their estate
A group of dog walkers say they are fed up with people who don’t pick up after their dogs.
Friends Emma Morris and Sue Soames, both from the Little Burton estate in Kennington, as well as other walkers, have started clearing away poo left on the pavements and cycle paths.
Miss Morris, 41, also says that she has encountered abuse from other walkers when she approaches them about clearing away their pet’s mess.
She said: “The owners don’t seem to be bothered about keeping their dogs under supervision and if they do, they don’t care about cleaning it up after.
“If I find dog fouling on the paths or close to the path I clear it up.
“Our other dog walking friends are cleaning up other’s messes too, so the smaller children don’t run and step in it when they are out playing.”
As well as clearing away the mess Miss Morris says she and friends are now taking part in monthly pick-ups in the area, which is often scattered with litter.
This month, Miss Morris and her friend collected four bags of rubbish.
She thinks the answer is for more bins to be placed in Kennington and for the existing ones to be emptied more often.
She added: “The bins are all broken and the bottoms are all coming off so really they need replacing.”
Ashford Borough Council is now reminding residents that they can dispose of pet waste in any bin across the borough.
A council spokesman said: “Biffa work in partnership with Ashford Borough Council on our street cleansing contract.
“Our residents do not have to find a dedicated dog waste bin as they are able to use litter bins for the disposal of both litter and dog waste.”
The spokesman added: “As part of our partnership arrangement with Biffa, both our contractor and our in-house staff monitor the progress of the contract.
“However, if our residents notify us of any perceived potential shortfall in the service, we will investigate and remedy the issue.”
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