Page 13 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • April 2009 13
Spring clean needed for fouled up Redhouse and Taw Hill North map still
beats Sat Navs
There have been calls for a neighbourhood clean-up since the March Link featured North Swindon resi-
dents disgusted by dog fouling on footpaths and public spaces.
An incident at the North Swindon
Gupti Gosine from Haydon End Learning campus in February
said he and his son Narad have to showed that satellite navigation
dodge dog mess on their daily trips systems are still not as up to date
to and from St Francis Primary as the free North Swindon map
School, Taw Hill. Recently Narad published by The Link in 2008.
fell off his bike while swerving to
avoid a pile in Haydon End Lane.
Mr Gosine has suggested Swin-
don Council organises one of its
Safe and Clean days. “It might
encourage people to take more
responsibility and ownership of
their local area,” he said. Paramedics were delayed be-
Alison Leighfield from Taw Hill cause they could not locate the
also wants to see a community entrance to the two special schools
effort to clean up the mess. She off Tadpole Lane.
picks up after her own six dogs ‘Let’s keep North Swindon clean of dog mess,’ dog warden Glyn Eamus with Andrea This has now happened several
Watson who first contacted The Link about the dog fouling problem in February times because, even though the
and has on occasion offered bags Problems can be reported online schools have been open for two
to owners who haven’t bothered. or by phone and hot spots are tar- years, sat navs still see the postcode
“I have received mainly abuse in geted. “People should get as much as a green field.
return. I have been threatened and information as they can. If you see A Link source said, “a delay in
once my mobile phone was nearly someone and the dog fouls, don’t an ambulance finding us could
stamped on.” approach them; report it. be a matter of life or death. I urge
Dog warden, Glyn Eamus, has “We need a description of the type people to make sure if they have
received several complaints and of dog and the person walking it, experienced the same problems
made patrols in the area to give what time of day, where they were to notify the highways department
advice to dog walkers and to moni- walking and the direction they were at Swindon Council.”
tor the situation. “Education is the heading.” The Link has sent more maps
thing; you need to teach people Call 445501 with information to Swindon Council and the ambu-
that they have to clean up and be about inconsiderate owners. lance service.
responsible,” he said. For council policy on dog fouling: Copies can be picked up at North
Narad Gosine, not injured falling off www.swindon.gov.uk/streets- Swindon Library and Swindon Infor-
his bike avoiding dog mess mart mation Centre in Regent Street.

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