Call for the council to take action (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Call for the council to take action

2:11pm Thursday 19th October 2006 in News

TEWKESBURY residents are urging town councillors to employ an environment officer - 12 months after the borough council decided to get rid of the post as a cost cutting measure.

Tewkesbury town councillors met on Monday to discuss the possibility of employing an environment officer after residents raised concerns over the increase in graffiti, litter and dog mess in the town and surrounding three parishes, Winchcombe, Ashchurch and Walton Cardiff.

Councillor Brian Calway of Priors Park said: "The problems associated with dog mess, litter and everyday problems do need to be addressed. If the borough council can no longer provide the resources to do that then maybe there is a way in which the town and parish councils can."

Among the many complaints from residents received by Cllr Calway was the high number of stray dogs spotted.

"I can understand the borough council could no longer afford an officer to deal with these duties because of their budget constraints but we need someone," he added.

Town councillors agreed a feasibility study should be carried out to estimate the cost of employing an environmental officer.

Tewkesbury's town clerk Mike Wilson said: "I've been formally asked by the town council to find a consultant to form a feasibility study enabling us to estimate just how much employing such a person would cost us."

The decision was made by the town council following the Clean Neighbourhood Act which enables parish and town authorities the power to employ their own environment officer who can deal with issues associated with litter.