gair rhydd Monday February 27 2012 | freeword – Est. 1972 | Issue 971
Dogged bureaucracy “I was effectively asked to push the dog off the pavement and onto the road with a stick.” Laura Evans News Editor A Cardiff University student has shown deep concern surrounding the actions of Cardiff City Council after an incident last week. On the evening of Sunday 18 February whilst walking home, the student found a deceased Jack Russell lying in front of his house covered in what was described as a “baby’s blanket”. It was later discovered that the dead animal had been lying on the pavement since that morning, having failed to be reported and dealt with. After contacting local police, the student and the rest of his housemates were informed that the council would be prompt in removing the deceased dog. Shortly after this, the police contacted the student explaining that a council worker had argued that if the dog was lying on the pavement, then it “was not their problem”. The worker claimed that only a dead animal lying on the road would be collected. The student, Phillip Venter told gair rhydd: “I speak for the majority of residents when I say that we are frustrated by the immaturity and lack of service provided by local authorities. They do not carry out the role they’re intended to but are very quick to hand out fines and bags that are left out.’ Phillip said these actions were “ignorant” and “showed a lack of civil duty and quite frankly the feeble and inadequate functioning of Cardiff City Council.” Concerns were raised regarding the unhygienic manner of the situation in an area, which is highly concentrated with students and
families. The students questioned why an uncomfortable incident like this was not dealt with quickly and as soon as possible. The Cardiff students also mentioned the issue of general waste disposal in the Roath area. They claimed that the collection of their wastage was not being dealt with adequately. gair rhydd was told that there have been several occasions where the students’ rubbish had failed to be collected, resulting in having to hold rubbish for another 14 days. They claimed that they would regularly see their bins uncollected at 5pm on the day of collection. However, a Cardiff Council spokesperson responded to this by stating: “waste collections are made up until 10pm at night so residents should leave their rubbish out until this time.” Chris Davies, Welfare and Communications Officer at Cardiff Students’ Union commented on the matter: “The Union has been working very closely with the council on issues of waste management and will continue to do so. The changes that have come in across Cardiff have taken time to bed in and hopefully incidences like this will not be repeated. “This particular case is regrettable and I hope that the Council reviews it’s actions and opens communications with the poor studentPhillip Venter who had to move the dog onto the road. This level of bureaucracy is barking mad.” As we go to print, gair rhydd are waiting on a response from Cardiff City Council. Above: Image showing student disposing of dog’s body as directed by the council
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