A resident of a Long Sutton estate fed-up with dog poo problems says authorities are washing their hands of the issue.
And the parish council says it highlights the problem with South Holland District Council appointing private companies to manage land as part of the planning process.
The Anfield Road area where Chris Cooper lives has a large open space and play park.
But he says people are not clearing up after their dogs and there is a big problem.
To combat it, Chris wants a bin for dog poo to be put up which he has even offered to empty when full.
However he can’t find anyone to take responsibility.
“The kids shouldn’t have to put up with all dog poo where they should be playing,” said Chris. “There’s a lamp post just outside my house that would be perfect to put a bin on for people to put their dog poo in.
“But nobody seems to want to know.
“I went to the parish council with it and they told me it was for South Holland District Council.
“South Holland says it’s nothing to do with them.
“I’ve been trying to get something done since September last year.”
SHDC said: “This does not sit with the district council. It is one for either the parish council or developer, whoever it is that owns the park.”
It says it gave the land to The Longhurst Group to look after, but that company told The Voice it was owned by Westleigh Partnership Ltd which has since been taken over by Countryside Properties Ltd.
The Voice has attempted to contact Countryside but hasn’t had a response at the time of going to press.
Karen Treacher, clerk of Long Sutton Parish Council said it highlighted issues faced by the planning authority (SHDC) making conditions that companies look after sites.
“The parish has a similar problem with the John Swains Way estate,” she said. “In many of planning observations they submit to SHDC the parish have asked that they do not enter into ‘Management Agreements’ with developers, but 98 per cent of the time planners ignore the observations and planning comments the parish council submits and invariably come down on the side of developers.
“In addition, SHDC are now trying to sell land, pass on or sell play areas and public toilets to many parish councils over South Holland meaning that the considerable costs of maintenance and vandalism is met by the parish precept of those parishes that take on these services and not the SHDC budget leaving the SHDC funds healthier.
“Parish councils are purely made up of volunteers and one or two part-time employees however, the SHDC has more staff and huge budgets.”
Concern over management companies was brought up at the most recent meeting of South Holland District Council as an application of 54 homes proposed one.
“I don’t like management companies,” said Long Sutton district councillor Coun Jack Tyrrell. “We should have it as council-run.
“For years we’ve been going back and forwards at getting the grass cut and things like that.
“We have no control over it but we get blamed for it while the management companies walk away.
“There must be a way to nail them to the ground.”
Planning chair Coun James Avery said in response: “I’ve been involved with management companies or housing agencies in the past where clearly there are issues with the maintenance of areas, even the properties themselves.
“On occasions it’s been mighty difficult to get associations to respond and do something. Not all are tarred with the same brush.
“A little bit of me agrees with what you say.”
