VILLAGERS in Shaw and Whitley are appealing for dog owners to clean up after their canine friends when visiting the area for walks.
Local group, Community Action: Shaw and Whitley (CAWS), reports that the villages have seen a rise in dog walkers visiting the area, and a rise in the amount of dog mess – “both bagged and otherwise” – left behind.
And the group has highlighted Littleworth Lane, which leads to a popular dog walking spot – as a hot spot for dog mess.
On behalf of CAWS, chair of the group, Pippa Richardson told Melksham News, “As the CAWS committee, we work hard with the local community to develop and implement initiatives that support our two village environments and aim to enhance the experience of living here for our residents and visitors.
“Every year we run a series of activities which include litter picks that result in many of our residents getting involved in collecting up significant amounts of rubbish left in our ditches, hedgerows and shared public spaces.
“We are proud of where we live and want it to be a clean, safe and tidy place.
“We’ve been truly horrified by the amount of dog mess; both bagged and otherwise, left around the villages recently – pavements, verges and driveways seem fair game to some dog walkers. There has also been a particular focus on Littleworth Lane which leads to a popular dog walking location also known as ‘The Roman Road’.
“The area consists of arable land where crops are grown for human and animal consumption. Dog walkers are encouraged to ensure their pets are either on lead or kept off the fields. Owners are also politely requested to collect up any mess their pets may make and dispose of it accordingly.
“More recently the hedgerows and area around the poop bin in the parking area have been overloaded with dog mess (some in bags) with some people going as far as to leave bags hanging on bushes and hedges along the walk towards the quarry. Given the focus on hygiene over the last year, it does leave you scratching your head and wondering at the irony of some people’s thinking.
“We want to see people enjoy the villages and what we offer in terms of access to really beautiful countryside walks and places of interest. We would just like to appeal to people to act responsibly when it comes to dealing with what their beloved pooches produce whilst visiting these shared and important arable spaces.
“Please bag it and bin it or take it home.”
