DOG poo bags have been dumped at a beauty spot in Malvern after bins were taken out of use.
David Stott said he saw the mess left behind at Peachfield Road Car Park last week, with the bags left on top of a sealed bin, as well as on the ground.
The bins at the car park are temporarily sealed, with visitors being directed to another black bin further down the road.
Why are the bins out of use?
The Malvern Hills Trust said it is trialling the new arrangement on Peachfield Common, as well as Link Common “in response to operational, health and safety, and accessibility considerations”.
But Mr Stott said it means some visitors may be avoiding walking down the hill to dispose of their waste.
He is also concerned that dog mess could be a health risk.
READ MORE: Warning after disposable barbecue causes blaze at Malvern Hills
Mess left behind
CONCERNS: There are fears that the dumped dog poo bags could create a health risk on Peachfield Common (Image: David Stott)
“It’s created a mess,” Mr Stott said. “There’s a lot of loose dog mess now. It could lead to somebody getting ill.
“The black bins are towards the bottom of the hill and a lot of people in this area are elderly so they’re not going to want to walk down and then walk back up again.”
READ MORE: Group took inflatables to quarry during heatwave despite swimming ban
Area being monitored
The Trust said it is monitoring Peachfield Common on a daily basis.
“We know that people care deeply about the Hills and Commons, and we are grateful to the resident for bringing this issue to our attention,” a spokesperson said.
“The current arrangements at Peachfield Common and Link Common are part of a temporary trial to explore alternative approaches to waste collection and management.
“The changes were introduced in response to a range of operational, health and safety, and accessibility considerations associated with the existing bin infrastructure.
BINS: Visitors to Peachfield Common have been redirected to a black bin further down Peachfield Road as part of a trial measure (Image: Malvern Hills Trust)
“The existing bins have been temporarily capped rather than permanently removed, allowing us to assess how the new arrangements are working before any decisions are made about future provision.
“We understand why people are concerned about seeing bags of dog waste left behind, and we would encourage all visitors to dispose of waste responsibly, either by using the nearest available bin or taking waste home with them.
“We are continuing to monitor the area daily as part of the trial and welcome feedback from visitors and local residents to help inform future decisions.
“We are incredibly grateful to the vast majority of people who use the Commons responsibly and help us care for these special places so that everyone can enjoy them.”
