Madam,

I am writing in response to the letter from Rosario Romero in which she criticised me for reporting Cllr Aled Davies to Ceredigion County Council and for my failure to collect rubbish on the South Beach.

Ms Romero must be aware of the problem of dog fouling on our beach which was highlighted in the Cambrian News last year. A town councillor described the problem as being “out of control”. Many dog owners fail to pick up after their dogs with some even covering the excrement with sand or stones!

Ms Romero should realise that the purpose of this bylaw which restricts dogs from parts of the South Beach is to discourage this type of behaviour and to provide a healthier environment for all beach users. The South Beach is especially popular with young children and it is only fair that they have priority over dogs for five months in summer.

Cllr Davies, whose ward covers the South Beach, should have set an example to others.

I have no personal animosity towards Cllr Davies and I only reported him to Ceredigion council as a last resort after previously speaking to him in person.

To give the excuse that they were not his dogs is no different to a speeding motorist trying to avoid prosecution by claiming he was driving someone else’s car!

Ms Romero also highlighted the litter and pollution problems in Aberystwyth and criticised me for not helping to collect rubbish. I always assumed that this was one of the service that was paid for by our taxes!

She clearly has no concept of the effort involved in running a small business. She also fails to comprehend that collecting litter once it has been created is futile and a waste of resources. It would be far more intelligent and cost-effective to eliminate the sources of litter.

For her to blame seagulls for litter is just ridiculous! Providing council bins on the prom which are not seagull proof and collecting household waste in flimsy black plastic bin liners is the cause of much of the litter in our town. No need “to get rid of all the seagulls”, just change the council bins and the method of collecting household refuse.

I would finally like to point out to Rosario Romero that when I or others criticise our council it is simply because we care about our town. It is not because “everything is wrong” in our lives.

Yours etc,

John Evans, South Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth.

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