City councillor secures new bins for important pedestrian route

A city councillor has secured new litter bins at the two entrances to the path through the memorial ground in Podsmead.

Councillor Sebastian Field, who represents Podsmead on the city council, was contacted last year by members of Widden Old Boys and Old Cryptians rugby clubs regarding an issue with some dog walkers leaving poo bags in the hedges around the ground.

With parts of Blackbridge Field inaccessible due to construction work on the new Blackbridge Hub, some walkers had resorted to leaving dog poo bags in private bins around the memorial ground or discarding them in the hedges. This created an unpleasant situation for volunteers at the clubs.

Although the ground is private land, there is a public right of way through the middle, from the stile at Laburnum Road, past the pitches, and through the ash path to Stroud Road.

Councillor Field met on-site with Rob Panou of Old Cryptians to discuss potential solutions. 

It was suggested that two new bins be installed – one at the top of the ash path and another in Laburnum Road.

Councillor Field then contacted the council to assess whether crews could empty and service the bins. He was pleased when his request for two new bins was approved.

“I am delighted that we secured these two new litter bins, which are the dual-use kind, so dog walkers can put their sealed dog poo bags in them too,” Councillor Field said. 

“This will help alleviate some of the problems the clubs were encountering.”