Members of the public sitting in on a recent town council meeting presented a petition demanding cleaner streets on behalf of disgruntled residents in Pembroke Dock.
Vanessa Owen spoke up for the town’s people, claiming that streets were perceived as “dirty” and that concerns over slippery footpaths had left some resident too frightened to leave their homes.
Mrs Owen said: “Some Irish visitors were overheard saying that they could not believe how filthy the town had become since their last visit.
“The amount of litter on the roads and footpaths of Pembroke Dock is unacceptable and needs to be addressed.”
The council heard how a woman in her eighties had suffered a fall after slipping on a pavement surface which was impacted with wet leaves and dirt.
Pembroke Dock mayor Ron Watts said: “We are painfully aware of certain areas which, in our opinion, are not cleaned adequately, but the answer from the county council is that you get what you pay for.”
Cllr Sue Perkins explained: “Pembrokeshire county council prides itself on being one of the lowest rate chargers in Wales.”
She added that Pembroke Dock environmental action team (PDEAT) is lobbying the county council to improve street cleaning within the town.
In the new year, it will also be Pembroke Dock’s turn to receive the Tidy Towns treatment during a week-long initiative with Keep Wales Tidy.
Councillors acknowledged that there is only one mechanical sweeper and one litter picker in the town, but Cllr Kate Becton pointed out that the litter pickers efforts as often in vain as people are often seen throwing litter on the ground despite being within yards of a bin.
Cllr Perkins urged Mrs Owen to write to the highways department at County Hall, adding: “Thank you so much for bringing the petition in as this will give weight to what we’ve been saying as councillors for some time.”
