Action needed as Wiltshire Council accused of “failing in their duty”

A BOWERHILL man has heavily criticised Wiltshire Council for their lack of action in keeping the area tidy. 

Ian Perks says the council is “failing in its duty” as he has had to take action into his own hands by picking up rubbish with his two sons every Sunday due to bins overflowing and not being emptied. He also claims that Wiltshire Council has done nothing about it despite being contacted on several occasions.

The Perks family now feel after several years of tidying the Spa Road area towards Bowerhill leading up to Melksham Oak, that it has become too much and they cannot keep it up.

Ian said, “For years now, my two sons and I have – every Sunday – grabbed several large bin bags and walked along Spa Road, picking up other people’s rubbish.  Along the way, several others will pass us and say ‘thank you’ for doing this on behalf of our local community.  And we are happy to do it.

“The level and nature of this litter has, however, now reached a point that we feel we cannot keep up with. The extent of litter we pick up walking a mere 20 metres from Mallory Place down towards The Spa houses roundabout is getting much worse over time.  Rather ironically, though predictably, this roundabout, where most rubbish  is to be found, is the one leading to Bowerhill’s Recycling Centre.

“Walking down to The Spa houses, and then up to Melksham Oak School, my young sons and I have no difficulty filling five large rubbish sacks with litter, much of which is glass bottles, crisp packets and plastic bottles.

“Wiltshire Council no longer seem to be emptying bins – or picking up litter in Bowerhill, especially the roundabout, and road leading up to Melksham Oak School. Incredibly, the bin opposite Mallory Place has not been emptied for five weeks, and has – for four weeks – been regurgitating bags of dog faeces. The pavement is smeared with faecal matter, and one cannot approach it without having to turn away in disgust at the hazard to health. What appalls us more than this is the council’s complacency, along a road that hundreds of children are compelled to use in order to walk to Melksham Oak School.

“I have e-mailed the council several times, giving the exact details and location of the problem bins, yet not once have they deemed me worthy of a reply, let alone act on it.

“The collection of glass and tin cans – churned to razor-sharp, serrated, snares for children and dogs to cut themselves up upon – are happily mangled further by grass-cutting. Are we to be thankful that this minimal service, at least, continues to occur?! Should it really be left to me and my two young sons to pick up litter spilling from public bins?  Should it really be left to members of the public to remind the council to empty bins?

“If this was a private business, it would have been declared bankrupt many moons ago.  If private companies and individuals are not permitted to behave in such ways – that is, with indifference and ineptitude – then, why is Wiltshire Council allowed to do so? The council has a duty of care towards the public and its tax-payers, which it is clearly failing to perform.

“If the local council cannot cope with existing litter levels, might I ask how they will fare if the proposed housing development in Bowerhill is permitted? It seems to us that the council is failing in its duty at the moment.  If they are happy enough to permit the relentless building of thousands of new homes in Melksham then they ought to be prepared to ensure adequate additional services are provided.”

A Wiltshire council spokesperson said, “We have raised this matter with our contractor, as bins should be emptied regularly to prevent them overflowing. We make it as easy as possible to report issues including the recent introduction of a smartphone app as well as our website and one telephone number.”

If you spot any issues that need to be reported to Wiltshire Council then call  0300 4560105. The website address to report issues is www.wiltshire.gov.uk/mywiltshireregister