Wokingham Lib-Dems say "Bring Back our Dog Waste Bins!"

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Apr 2009

Wokingham Liberal Democrats were horrified when Tory-controlled Wokingham Borough Council removed all the dog waste bins in the borough without any warning. Dog waste is no longer classified as hazardous and the council says that it can be placed in normal litter bins.

Councillor Phil Challis (Lib Dem councillor for Loddon ward) says, "This is a terrible idea and the council has made a right dog's dinner of this. The bins were removed without any warning, and with no explanation to the public that normal litter bins could be used for dog waste. In many cases, no alternative bins were even provided."

Following a public uproar, signs have been placed where the dog bins have been removed advising people to use normal litter bins, and the council has promised to provide more bins.

Phil Challis said, "It is sheer incompetence on the part of the Tory executive that resulted in such a shambles." He added, "Dog poo littering our communities is horrible, and the council needs to do everything in its power to make it easy for dog owners to take responsibility for cleaning up after their pets. Removing all the dog bins could result in a huge increase in dog fouling.

"The public don't want dog mess in their parks and on pavements. Many residents have told me that they are very unhappy that dog poo can be put in normal litter bins. These bins don't have lids or liners, and people are worried about the smell, the lack of hygiene and the risk of catching toxacariasis. I call on the Tory executive to re-instate the dog bins immediately, especially as the public have made it very clear they want the bins brought back."