Here,Here!
Published date: 24 August 2016 |
Published by: Andrew CainRead more articles by Andrew Cain
A MAGISTRATE has slammed Wrexham Council for what he has described as “astonishing hypocrisy”.
Nick Colbourne, a JP at Wrexham MagistratesCourt and a former Wrexham councillor, criticised Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment and transport, and other members of the local authority for not doing enough to tackle littering and pollution by their own operatives and vehicles, despite their ‘zero tolerance’ approach to the issue of littering and dog fouling.
More than 40 people appeared in court last week alone for not paying fines associated with littering and Cllr Bithell said: “I’m very pleased the magistrates ruled in our favour in each of these instances.
“I hope this shows we will use all our powers under the law to follow all environmental enforcement action to its end.
“I’ve repeatedly stated that if you don’t drop litter or allow your dog to foul, you have nothing to fear from our action. Our zero-tolerance approach to dog fouling and littering continues.”
But while Mr Colbourne wholeheartedly supported the work of his colleagues on the bench, he said the hypocrisy of the council over the issue was “astonishing”.
He said: “There is no greater offender in this respect than the local authority themselves.
“Bryn Lane on the WIE (Wrexham Industrial Estate) is disgusting.
“Their vehicles attending the depot and recycling centre do more to pollute our locality than any cigarette dropping offender.”
Mr Colbourne, who takes regular walks up that way, said the roads and pavements heading towards the recycling centre are “absolutely covered in filth”, included newspapers, packets and even what looked like an old nappy.
He added: “There is never any sign of anybody cleaning up. I am not saying it is right to litter in the town centre, but if you are going to crow about that, do something about your own back garden.
“I go through different ways around the industrial estate on walks and I know it is only that lane; the only explanation I can think of is the bin wagons going down there.
“If there is a way to stop the rubbish coming out of the back, then fine. But if not, they should send a crew out to clean the mess up.
“It’s appalling, and it must be a health hazard because of all of the domestic waste, including what looks like a rotting nappy.”
Cllr Bithell said he thanked ex Cllr Colbourne for his comments and said: “We will look into this and deal with it appropriately. I am pleased that the courts are supporting Wrexham council following the current administration’s stance on a zero tolerance approach to have a litter free Wrexham which costs the council tax payer £.1.2m a year.
“It’s a pity that when he was a councillor he and his Labour colleagues did not take a similar approach.”
Leader of the council Cllr Mark Pritchard also thanked ex Cllr Colbourne for his comments and added: “I’d like to give my reassurance that, if any member of council staff, whether from refuse collection or otherwise, drops litter or allows their dog to foul, they will be treated in the exact same way as anybody else would be.”
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/165848/wrexham-council-slammed-for-astonishing-hypocrisy-by-magistrate.aspx
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