THERE continues to be a bit of a stink over dog mess bins not being emptied in the town.

Anna Kelly from Tavistock who walks her dog three times a week along the canal and in the Meadows said she was appalled last week that the bins were overflowing and had not been emptied by the local authority.

To add to the problem there are still many irresponsible dog owners who do not clean up after their pets, said Mrs Kelly, who has picked up other people's dog mess and put it in the bin.

She told the Times: 'As a responsible person collecting my dog's poo, it annoys me to see dog litter bins overflowing with bags containing — one assumes — dog poo, when this is as unhealthy and unhygenic as it being left on the ground, except that there's no risk of it being trodden in.

'However, having to battle with a foul smelling bin in order to dispose of a responsible person's collection, does not encourage responsible people to dispose of their dog's poo.

'This bin is in view of all who walk along the path by the river to the car park, Wharf and park.

'This is not a on-off occurrence. Only last month those who contract to empty the bins were being defended by West Devon Borough Council in an article in the Times on this same matter. Is this what we pay taxes for?

'There is plenty of discrimination about dog poo left lying around (minimally) but no-one complains about the litter of broken glass, plastic bottles containing urine and wrappers from all sorts of food regularly lying around the bandstand and the skateboard park or in the nearby shelter.'

Alison Stoneham, a spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council, responded by saying: 'Our contractor empties nine dog mess bins in the Meadows on behalf of Tavistock Town Council. They are emptied twice a week, usually on Mondays and Fridays. Occasionally, the bins become full before the next collection.

'If you see a full dog mess bin in the park, please contact the borough council and we can organise for it to be emptied.

'Staff from Tavistock Town Council carry out daily litter collections in the Meadows and surrounding areas along with daily litter bin emptying, including at weekends.'