Exclusive by Alan Quick

CREDITON Town Council has launched a “Keep Crediton Clean” campaign and is encouraging local residents and business owners to get involved.

The council says that during the last 12 months it has received “increased complaints about the declining condition of our town”.

In a statement it said this is mainly due to littering, dog fouling and flyposting.

It added: “A clean town is everyone’s responsibility, so the Town Council is taking a proactive lead in encouraging residents and businesses to take action now and help ‘Keep Crediton Clean’.”

LITTERING

With regard to litter, the council says: “Litter affects us all. It is dirty, has a negative impact on our environment and is totally unacceptable.

“There is no reason for it, but 62 per cent of people drop litter (according to a recent survey carried out by Keep Britain Tidy).

“The message is simple - dropping litter is wrong, so use a bin or take your rubbish home with you. This includes smokers who think it is ok to drop cigarette ends on the floor.

“The Town Council is encouraging local community groups and organisations to help “Keep Crediton Clean”.

“A number of initiatives have already taken place in the town; you may have even been involved in one.

“If you would like to take part in helping to clean up the town, please contact the Town Council. We can provide equipment and would also like to tell everyone about the great work you are doing.”

DOG FOULING

Concerning dog fouling, the council says: “Dog fouling is unsightly, unpleasant and can lead to Toxocariasis in humans, which causes serious illness and even blindness.

“Toxocariasis is caused by a roundworm parasite and is spread from animals to humans through contact with infected faeces.

“It usually affects young children because they are more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil when they play and put their hands in their mouths.

“The best way to reduce the chances of anyone being infected is for dog owners to regularly worm their pets and pick up and dispose of faeces immediately.

“To help residents with this, the Town Council has free dog poo bags available.

“Donations are welcome to help cover the costs.

“Please dispose of your bags responsibility either in a dog bin, a litter bin or at home in your general waste bin.

“Please do not leave your bags hanging in hedges, on trees, fences or gates.”

Crediton Town Council has ordered 50,000 disposable dog poo bags, which are available from the Crediton Town Council office.

FLYPOSTING

The council says that every year many local groups and organisations host events in the town and that it is only right that these are advertised to make everybody aware of them.

It says: “Many posters are put up around the town on street furniture such as lampposts and telegraph poles.

“To make it easier for people to erect their posters, the Town Council has installed cable ties to the street furniture.

“This means posters can be hung with a piece of string or a cable tie, thus avoiding the need to use sticky tape (which leaves a residue) and staples (which are left behind with bits of paper stuck underneath them).

“If you are holding an event and wish to advertise it in the town, please use the cable ties provided and remove your posters after the event.

“Please note, the Town Council does not allow posters to be displayed in the bus shelters due to the mess that is left behind and the cost to clean up afterwards.”

POSTERS

Crediton Town Council has place posters in Newcombes Meadow warning that dogs must be kept on leads in the park and about picking up dog mess.

It has also placed notices which read “The Dog Poo Fairy does not exist - Clean up after your dog” notices around the town, with a warning that the maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine.

It has also issued Dog Fouling Report It forms, which should be returned to the Council Offices. Alternatively, it suggests people use Mid Devon District Council’s online Dog Fouling Incident Form at: www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/dogs/dog-fouling/ .

Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, said that Keep Crediton Clean Campaign stickers are available at the Council Offices for youth groups and organisations and equipment such as litter pickers and bags.

She added: “This is a new Town Council initiative. Crediton Town Council is taking the lead to encourage residents and visitors to look after the environment and help take responsibility for the town by keeping it nice and clean.”

The Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, said he wants Crediton to become a ‘Street Improvement Town’, a campaign he invented.

He said he wants people to keep the pavements outside their homes free from weeds and litter, adding that two minutes every few weeks would keep the weeds down.

“It could help the town look really great and if a group of neighbours got together that would keep the whole street or area tidy.

“The council has high-vis jackets available to borrow and because we do not intend doing anything on roads, we do not need Chapter 8 training.

“By showing we care for the environment I hope it will encourage Mid Devon District Council to come along once or twice a year to clear overgrown grass verges or weeds from the sides of roads.”

Mr Letch said anyone who was interested in joining a group to help can contact him.

Recently youths have been causing a litter problem in Newcombes Meadow and he hoped people would telephone the police to report them if they were misbehaving.

Most recently there has been damage to the bandstand and police have increased patrols in the area.