All posts by Macfivenews

Motoring and travel journalist, opinionated gob on a stick
Business, Lifestyle

Wedding fayre launched

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Sutton Coldfield Town Hall to host virtual event

Sutton Coldfield Town hall is to launch a virtual wedding fayre to help locked down engaged couples plan their big day.
The online event, to be streamed from 10.30am this Saturday 27 March, is part of a relaunch of wedding services at the town hall, which received a business grant in 2020 to develop wedding services during the pandemic. The £40,000 project included a £30,000 grant from Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership. Under the ‘Pivot and Prosper’ scheme, it was able to decorate key areas, upgrade digital marketing and install wedding streaming cameras as well as pay for sales and planning staff to improve services.
The virtual fayre, streamed and then stored on the venue website, will be hosted by Jane Dayus-Hinch, local wedding expert and host of the Canadian series ‘Wedding SOS’, which is currently being streamed on Pluto TV and YouTube.
There will be advice and features from Midlands Wedding Caterer of the Year – Caviar and Chips and Midlands Asian Wedding Awards winner, The Juci Luci Cake Company. They will be joined by Sutton experts Floral Jazz and bespoke celebrant Carol Joy.

Included in the 30 suppliers featured will be specialist in South Asian weddings, Arum Javed from Sovereignty Event Management and local five-star company Nothing But Wedding Cars.
The Town Hall’s Hannah Matthews has produced the project, and as a wedding dress and tailoring specialist, she will be giving tips for all members of the wedding party. Filmed by digital specialist Cormac Wade, it marks the official launch of the venue’s new services. A sales team, led by Leyanne Jarvis and Judith Howard, is already receiving renewed interest in the venue, particularly for key  dates in summer 2022.
Hannah has been working with local suppliers in the run up to the event. She said: “We have over 30 local, reputable suppliers and professionals, and after a complex and turbulent year for the wedding and events industries, we’re proud to be using our funding as a springboard for some of these fantastic businesses in the West Midlands.

 “We’re ensuring that the fayre is accessible until restrictions begin to lift, and these companies are then able to start to trade at a more normal pace, as any additional business we can direct to them will help make for a far more positive 2021.”
 To access the stream, visitors can pre-register via the venue’s Facebook events, or visit scth.org/fayre-registration, and on the day take part via the website scth.org/wedding-fayre.
Photos: Mike Wade.

Lifestyle, Motoring

All Jazzed up with Crosstar

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2020 Honda Jazz Crosstar

Honda Jazz Crosstar EX e:HEV

By Bill McCarthy

With crossovers all the rage, it seems even established models are getting the treatment Such is the case with the new Jazz, a supermini which has been around since 2001, and is now offering smart styling in two forms, the traditional best-selling hatch and the more SUV-like Crosstar driven here.

The result remains affordability and practicality, with this latest hybrid version, carrying Honda’s new e:HEV badge, delivering amazing fuel economy. 

Driving many cars over the years, despite what official mpg figures may say, experience gives an indication of what kind of economy is being delivered, not to mention the clear evidence of the fuel level indicator on the dash. While official figures are around the 60mpg mark, I was getting nearer 70mph with really trying too hard. This included town, country and motorway driving.

The new Crosstar variant is designed, says Honda, to target those with active lifestyles with a more rugged appearance which includes, increased ride height, new grille, black cladding to wheel arches, roof bars and silver and black alloys. It also has its own blue colour scheme with the option contrasting black roof.

‘On the road, the car feels nippy enough and is a very comfortable place to be’

|nside it features a very less-is-more set up. The firm says its ‘Yoo no bi’ philosophy offers a clean, minimalist interior, wrapping utility, practicality and functionality in a simple, uncluttered ergonomic cabin.

In other words it’s a fairly minimalist setup, with no-nonsense, durable plastics, offset by the occasional soft-touch areas and features wipe-clean seats. It has a central touchscreen, seven or nine-inch, depending on model, which controls navigation, smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an uprated, eight-speaker sound system. Also included are WiFi hotspot capability, while ‘Honda Personal Assistant’ delivers voice-enabled features and My Honda+ app keeps owners connected when they are away from the car

Other rotary controls are simple to use and supplemented by a seven-inch full TFT instrument cluster and multi-function steering wheel.

It feels roomy for a smallish car with the upright driving position, loads of head and legroom both in the front, and, importantly for a family vehicle, class leading legroom to the rear. In addition a large glass windscreen, flanked by narrower A pillars, allows plenty of light into the cabin.

Stowage space is impressive with central bin and side pockets while the boot offers 298 litres, increasing to a maximum 1,199 litres to the roof with the rear seats down. Honda’s uprated ‘Magic Seat’ configuration offers both fold-flat or flip-up seat flexibility to accommodate cargo of various shapes and sizes and a wider tailgate opening and new flat floor eases loading and unloading. A rubber protective mat is also included in the boot space.

The power setup includes two electric motors connected to a 1.5-litre petrol engine and lithium-ion battery. The combination propels the car to 62mph in not-too-pedestrian 9.9 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 109mph. 

Drivers are offered three drive modes: EV Drive where the battery drives the electric motor directly, ideal for congestion charge zones and fuel saving; hybrid drive where the engine supplies power to the electric generator motor, which in turn supplies it to the electric  motor and full combustion engine drive.

In most cases it is a combination of EV  and Hybrid. Engine drive also kicks in where extra power is needed for greater acceleration.The power units are mated to a new e-CVT setup, not my favourite type transmission. There is no doubt it is fuel efficient, but the accelerating hard has your teeth on edge, until it settles down at the required speed.

On the road, the car feels nippy enough and is a comfortable place to be. The higher stance means there is some body roll, but occupants are well insulated from road and engine noise, apart from under heavy acceleration.

It is packed with safety kit, with a full complement of 10 airbags, including a new front centre airbag. Also new is  Honda SENSING technology, which includes new wider angle high-definition camera, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane assist system, road departure adjustment, blind spot and traffic sign system and speed limiter.

Factfile

Honda Jazz Crosstar EX e:HEV

Price: £23,585

Mechanical: 107bhp, 1,498cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving and electric motors, driving front wheels via CVT transmission

Max speed: 109mph

0-60mph: 9.9 seconds

Combined mpg: 58.9

Insurance group: 26

CO2 emissions: 110g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/90,000 miles

News

Trees axed in restoration

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Action to improve Sutton Park environment

Tree surgeons have been busy clearing a large tract of land opposite the car park at Bracebridge in Sutton Park as part of a heathland restoration project.

The work is part of a heathland restoration project designed to improve the habitat for wildlife and preserve different types of vegetation in the park.

While many park visitors assumed the car park was being extended, it was in fact a project to clear dead and overpopulated trees to be replaced with lowland heathland an ecologically rich habitat that forms on nutrient poor sandy soils.

Sutton Park is a nationally important lowland heathland site and while much uch of the restoration work carried out looks dramatic and sometimes drastic, it had to be carried out.

Park rangers say it is important to continue to graze and work the site to ensure the survival of a patchwork of different vegetation types at different stages of development and to provide to a host of species in miniature the habitats that once existed across the entire midlands region.

  • Even the Exmoor ponies are wondering what’s going on
The large area being cleared as part of the heathland restoration project

The work, by Birmingham City Council, includes a reduction of mature birch to maintain and enhance lowland heathland areas.

One of the Birmingham City Council tree surgeons said that heathland is also better for absorbing harmful CO2, as well being an extra grazing area for the wild Exmoor ponies and other wildlife in the park.

The timber will be transported and used in an ecologically friendly way to power plants in the region.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/suttonparknnr/

News

Sutton warning on Census scams

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Residents told to be aware of conmen

Residents in Sutton Coldfield have b been warned to be aware of a new breed of scammers using the Census to perpetrate doorstep, telephone and online scams.

Census Day was last Sunday 21 March and from the end of the month until into April, census field officers will be visiting households across the town from which they have not received a completed census form. Their job is to encourage people to complete the census and help residents to access further help if they need it.

Scammers may seek to use the Census as an opportunity to perpetrate doorstep, telephone, and online scams, so it is important to remember the following:

  • At no point will you be asked for your national insurance number, passwords, bank account details, or your credit or debit card numbers, nor any payment
  • You will not receive any payment for completing the census, so any offers of money in exchange for your account details will be fraudulent
  • You will not be called for information about the census unless you’ve made an appointment with the Census Contact Centre or made a query or complaint
  • No-one will enter your home in relation to the census
  • Help to fill out your form is free (for more information visit: https://census.gov.uk/ or phone 0800 141 2021)
  • You can report a fraud direct to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

News

Sutton Park Games development sparks row

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The existing car park area near the Miller & Carte restaurant, with Powell’s Pool in the back ground. Picture: Birmingham City Council
Mixed reaction for Triathlon car park development

Plans for a £770k development in Sutton Park to support next year’s Commonwealth Games have received a mixed reaction from Sutton Coldfield people.

Sutton Park was chosen as the venue for the triathlon and para-triathlon events, which takes place on July 29 and 31, 2022. It provides the perfect setting, with Powell’s Pool, the park and the local roads, to accommodate all three disciplines of a triathlon event (swimming, cycling and running). The area has already successfully hosted Birmingham Triathlon events over the last few years.

The plans will be part of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games legacy and includes £528,000 spent on the revamped car park, in an area next to the Miller & Carter restaurant.
The plans gained general approval at a series of consultations, but some residents are up in arms with one describing it as a ‘white elephant’ and a further erosion of the park’s natural beauty.

But a former local independent councillor says the proposals will be good for the park and criticised local Conservative town councillors on the planning and highways committee for voting against the plan.

Former Vesey independent Paul Long said on the Boldmere Community Facebook page: ” So what happens if BCC (Birmingham City Council) listen to this objection? It puts at risk the triathlon taking place for the CWG2022 because there will not be the facilities to support it – facilities that will also provide a long-lasting legacy. What should the Town Council have done? They should have spoken to residents in Vesey ward and attended the Vesey Ward Forum meeting.”

To meet Birmingham 2022’s requirements, the venue at Boldmere Gate will be required to  provide a sufficient surface area to allow the installation of the athlete’s zone and media areas.

To achieve this, the existing hardstanding car parking surface area will be upgraded to provide a suitable surface area for the transition area and athletes’ zone.

The improvements to the car park will result in an improved permanent car park area for the benefit of visitors post-Games, as well as legacy benefits including an all-year car park and an improved ability to host future events.

The existing car park will expand from 125 to 221 spaces, a gain of 96, including 12 new disabled spaces and five for cycles, allowing the existing overspill car park further in the park would be reverted to Site of Special Scientific Interest habitat.

But local resident David Carter, who lives on nearby Monmouth Drive, said the proposals would damage the nature of the park.

He said: “The last thing we need here is more parking, causing traffic chaos around Boldmere Gate and back into Monmouth Drive. It will also have a detrimental effect on the beauty of the park. We already seen how the park has been badly affected during lockdown with thousands more people leaving tons of litter behind them.

“It seems unnecessary for such disruption for what is essentially a one-off event. A bit of a white elephant really.”

The designs will provide benefits for the Games and legacy by: improving and expanding the existing hardstanding area (athletes’ zone and media areas); the introduction of another entrance/exit point to the car park, which means traffic can access the car park without crossing event routes; improved accessibility for visitors through the provision of formal disabled parking bays and  the installation of cabling and connections for upgraded electricity provision.

A consultation process  with the city council found general approval of the plans with 62 per cent of those who participated rating the proposals as either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ with a further 20 per cent rating them as ‘average’.

A local consultation by Birmingham City Council saw a wide range  of suggestions for other improvements that resident would like to see at Boldmere Gate, including toilet facilities, a community café or bistro, children’s play area and even electric car charging points.

Presentation was made to attendees the Sutton Vesey Ward Forum on December 3 2020, which numbered 84 attendees, local councillors and stakeholders. This was an open live streamed event given to consult on the pre-application proposals ahead of the formal consultation as part of the Planning Application process. Residents on the contact list and the website were sent the agenda and joining instructions on the 23rd November.

A formal one-month on-line consultation ran from December 3 2020 to January 4, 2021 on the city council’s Be Heard Website, which received 76 responses.

More information on the consultation can be found at https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/we_asked_you_said/

Travel

Turkey to reopen to Brits

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No vaccine requirements for UK tourists

By James Chapple

TTG Media Ltd

Turkey says it will be ready to host British tourists this summer. The country has pledged to review its pre-travel test requirement too, starting 15 April.

It has also announced a priority vaccination programme for those employed across the country’s tourism economy.

This will extend to hotel workers and other tourism employees, who will be vaccinated before the summer.

“We are looking forward to welcoming British tourists with open arms, as we did safely last summer,” said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s minister of culture and tourism.

“We have world-class border processes in place for ensuring travel will be low-risk throughout Turkey. We are working with the British authorities to ensure these necessary processes are world-class and as up to date as possible.

“We will not require vaccination passports from international travellers when entering the country.”

Ersoy said that the country would review case numbers from 15 April and determine whether it will continue to require Brits to provide evidence a negative pre-travel Covid test.

“I expect there will be no such requirement from British visitors as the UK government is rapidly, and impressively, rolling out the vaccination program for the whole nation and a significant portion of the population will be vaccinated by early summer.”

The minister said Turkey would continue to invest in its safe tourism certification programme, which has been expanded for 2021 and made compulsory for all hotels and other accommodation with 30 rooms or more. In excess of 8,000 such businesses have been certified to date.

All certified accommodation providers will provide testing facilities for tourists should they need a test ahead of their return journey. Tests will cost €30 (£25) and will also be available at the country’s airports.

Turkey is also offering a Covid-19 insurance package from €15 (£12) covering treatment, medication and emergency care costs if a traveller requires hospital treatment. An additional accommodation support insurance will cover guests in event they have to extend their stay owing to Covid.

“We are confident that the successful vaccination programmes ongoing in both the UK and Turkey will ensure this season is even safer than last year,” said Ersoy.

News, Travel

Vaccine passport to cruising

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BY TOM PARRY

Virgin Voyages require guest and crew jabs

Virgin Voyages will require all guests and crew to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before sailing, the line has announced.

The move follows similar policies from Crystal Cruises and Saga, while all passengers aged over 16 onboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas in Israel will also have been inoculated.

Virgin Voyages, which recently revealed its third ship Resilient Lady would launch in Europenext summer, said its vaccination stance was to “ensure we’re providing the safest travel experience”. 

“This is a step towards the safe return to sailing and is the right decision for Virgin Voyages,” said the line’s president Tom McAlpin in a statement.

McAlpin said he was “really encouraged” by US president Joe Biden’s plans to offer vaccinations to every American adult by the end of May. 

“We’re an adult-only cruise line, which allows for us to offer a highly controlled, safe environment for everyone onboard,” added McAlpin. 

“Our business us uniquely set up to do this with testing and vaccine travel requirements. There’s a huge pent-up demand for travel, and Virgin Voyages will be ready to welcome you onboard soon.”

Motoring

Slick Citroen a smooth operator

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Citroen C4 – First drive

I had to do a double take when first seeing the new Citroen C4  in the flesh, or the metal, if you like.

I have to admit that one of my favourite looking motors on the market is the Mazda CX, hence the double take at the latest version of the hatchback from Citroen, which looks just as stylish, but still unmistakably a Citroen.

It makes a statement in many ways, taking on such formidable rivals as the Golf, Focus and Astra, not to mention its own stablemate the Peugeot 308. With a choice of petrol, diesel and pure electric versions it is also a vehicle very much designed for comfort.

It has bold styling and a range of power units that include the all-electric ë-C4, which offers a range of 200 miles-plus between charges. It also puts the emphasis on comfort with the firm’s specially padded seats with hydraulic cushions, a softish, but comfortable ride and high quality fixtures and fittings.

“The stylish new C4 has thrown down the gauntlet to the market leaders”

The new model also offers 20 driver assistance features, including Highway Driving Assist and a level-two semi-autonomous system that incorporates adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.

 Designers have combined hatchback practicality with the bold, muscular styling of a crossover/SUV and swooping, coupe-like sleekness. Add to this stylish, slim LEDs as part of the lighting cluster, together with chunky wheel arches and side cladding and you have a very stylish vehicle.

 To the rear it has a sloping rear window and spoiler, which the firm says draws its inspiration from the 2004 C4 Coupé with its original two-piece rear window topped by an aerodynamic spoiler.

 Inside too, it offers bold, yet simplistic styling, with the focus being on comfort. The centre point is the familiar 10-inch touchscreen which controls the major functions of the car like infotainment, connectivity and navigation.

The infotainment features Citroen’s navigation system and connectivity is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A full HD camera, which can take photos or video stored on a 16GB memory card, is built into the rear-view mirror.

Controls are supplemented by the flat-bottomed, multi-function steering wheel.

  • The clever tablet holder in front of the passenger seat in the new Citroen C4

The cars driven here offer important choices for buyers. The three-cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine, available in 100, 130 and 155PS power ranges, are gutsy units that give brisk acceleration and good economy, with up to 50mpg claimed while delivering the throaty rasp associated with three pot engines.

The 100kW (136bhp) electric unit also driven here offers typical electric vehicle electric pace, hitting 60mph in just nine seconds, while at the same time offering big savings on fuel costs and both road and benefit in kind tax savings through zero tailpipe emissions, only offset by the still cheap electric charging costs. It has a WLTP range of 217 miles and in common with the EV trend, only slightly different blue flashes and badging distinguishes it from the combustion engine sibling.

In addition, diesel, long associated with the French brand, has not been abandoned either with a 102PS 1.5 litre option offering typical turbo diesel punch and high levels of torque and economy, aimed at those clocking up high mileage.   A six-speed manual or eight-speed auto gearbox is offered on combustion models.

 Despite its sporty profile, comfort is very much a key factor from the comfortable seats, wide wraparound effect dash and soft touch finish to doors and dash and ambient lighting giving it an upmarket feel. 

  The comfort of the ride and seating arrangement and uprated sound deadening technology make the car feel refined, with only the rasp of the three pot engine under heavy acceleration. The electric vehicle is virtually silent with only a hint of road noise intruding on poorer road surfaces.

As a hatchback it is practical with a 380 litre boot, where capacity can be increased by folding the rear seats. An additional 16 storage compartments offer an extra 39 litres of space and unique to the C4 and a neat touch, is a retractable system designed to hold a tablet computer, built  directly built into the dashboard.

In addition to the entry level Sense petrol starting at £21,000, there are Sense Plus, Shine and Shine Plus. The EV version will cost a smidge under £30k.

Stylish, economical and with an electric variant, the new C4 has thrown down the gauntlet to the market leaders.

Lifestyle, News

In the saddle for fundraiser

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Riders in the saddle for the Cycle St Giles event in 2019

St Giles Hospice aims to relaunch events with Cycle Spring

St Giles Hospice is hoping to relaunch its programme of fundraising events over the next few months – starting with Cycle Spring in May.

Events like Cycle Spring and their annual Solstice Walk raise more than £300,000 each year towards funding care for local people living with terminal illness and their families and, as Coronavirus restrictions begin to be lifted, the hospice is planning to bring the events calendar back as soon as Government guidelines allow.

Cycle Spring is planned to take place on Sunday 23rd May, with COVID-compliant measures in place. 

2020 was an extremely difficult year in which to raise vital funds for the charity that saw closure of their shops and cancellation of many fundraising events – making the 2021 events programme more important than ever in raising vital funds for hospice care.

Chloe Herbert, Head of Fundraising at St Giles Hospice, said: “If England continues to meet the Government’s COVID-19 milestones, we are hoping that our events should be able to go ahead this year – starting with Cycle Spring. 

“We’re absolutely delighted at the thought of being able to welcome back our wonderful fundraisers in person in 2021 after a year when we’ve had to cancel our events and close our shops, which significantly impacted on our income. 

“Whether you’re a regular rider or new to cycling, we’d love you to support us at our COVID-compliant Cycle Spring event. We sincerely hope that Coronavirus restrictions do not result in further cancellations but the safety of our supporters, volunteers and staff is our top priority. Whatever happens, we’ll be keeping our participants up to date with developments. 

“If, come May, we can’t get together at Whittington we’ll provide our participants with everything you need to cycle for St Giles in your own time. We’ll make sure that our community can still take part, no matter what! Following sign up, all cyclists will be provided with fundraising packs full of route maps, medals, certificates and more.”

Previous Cycle Spring rides set off from Chasewater, but this year’s event will be starting and finishing at a new location for the first time ever – St Giles Hospice in Whittington. 

Riders will be able to choose from three new routes through the beautiful Staffordshire countryside with varying degrees of difficulty. The 27-mile route is open to all cyclists aged 10 and above and the more challenging 52-mile and 76-mile routes are open to riders aged 16 and over.

Arrival times will be staggered from 7.30am to ensure that social distancing measures can be complied with, and bookings are restricted to a maximum of six people from the same household or support bubble.

One person cheering the return of Cycle Spring is Lichfield fundraiser Phil Langham, whose father-in-law was cared for at St Giles Hospice.

Phil Langham prepares for the spring cycle ride

Warehouse supervisor Phil, aged 52, took part in his first Cycle Spring event in September 2019 and is hoping to take part again.

Phil said: “I did Cycle Spring for the first time in 2019 and jumped right in at the deep end, doing the most difficult challenge. I really enjoyed it. It was amazing – a really good atmosphere.

“Cycling is a very sociable thing to do and knowing we were all riding for such a good cause gave us a real boost. It’s vital to support specialist services like St Giles Hospice and it’s great to hear that the event is going ahead again this year. The hospice relies so much on the local community for its fundraising and I really felt for St Giles because of the cancellations in 2020.”

Phil has supported St Giles since his wife Helen’s dad, Denis Parsons, was cared for by the hospice in 2011 before his death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He took part the 2019 ride with a team of fellow worshippers from Lichfield’s Wade Street Church.

Phil added: “St Giles Hospice is such a lovely place. My father-in-law felt comfortable there and the staff were really good. They always did what they could to help, and the nurses were brilliant, really attentive.

“I would definitely encourage people to take part in a cycling challenge for St Giles. It’s a great way to get some exercise and see the countryside and there’s a ride for people of all abilities – you can be as adventurous as you like!”

Cyclists booking a place before midnight on Wednesday 31st March can enjoy an early bird offer of £25, and entry at £27 closes at midday on Thursday 20th May 2021.

Chloe added: “Our cycling events have raised more than £250,000 since they were launched in 2013 and we’d like to thank everyone who has taken part and raised funds for St Giles. Riders like Phil make an enormous contribution which allows us to support more local patients living with a terminal illness and their families.

“With a new location this year we hope many Cycle Spring veterans will return to join our riders on these exciting routes for the first time – and with three to choose from you won’t struggle to find a cycle challenge to suit you or the whole family!”

To sign up for Cycle St Giles Spring or for any further details visit http://www.stgileshospice.com/cyclespring

For more information about St Giles Hospice and the expert care it provides, please visit http://www.stgileshospice.com

News

Don’t feed the ponies plea

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Anger over TV presenter’s comments

Sutton Coldfield residents have reacted to comments from Central TV presenter Bob Warman about feeding the Exmoor ponies in Sutton Park.

In a section about the ponies, the veteran presenter said he would like to take carrots to the herd that roams the area the next time he visited the park.

This is despite signs posted throughout the park discouraging visitors from feeding the ponies as all of their dietary needs are catered for within the park itself.

Sutton Park is home to the largest herd of Exmoor ponies outside of Exmoor itself. As well as being a delight to visitors they contribute an important part to the environmental welfare of the park.

Sutton Park has also seen an increase in the number of dogs, let off their leads by owners, chasing and harassing the ponies, causing distress and anxiety. It is part of increased anti-social behaviour in the park which also includes large gatherings of people ignoring lockdown restrictions and discarding their litter, sometimes in the park pools.

One park visitor posted on a Sutton community Facebook page: “I can hardly express how furious I am. Just watching ITV Central News which featured an article on the wild ponies of our country including our beautiful Exmoor Ponies in Sutton Park.

“Mr Warman ended the article by announcing next time he is in Sutton Park he will take them some carrots.I just cannot believe the ignorance of such a prominent local person.”

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council, which has responsibility for the park indicated it was in dialogue with ITV Central about the concerns in relation the comments that were made on air.

A spokesman added: “As we have said throughout the pandemic, and would say more generally, we would urge dog owners/walkers to act responsibly at all times and for people to follow the guidance on coronavirus so we continue to minimise the threat it still poses to people.

“In terms of litter, we again repeat our call for people to respect all of our parks and open spaces. This is our shared environment. If people have litter and are unable to find a bin, they should take it home and dispose of it safely.”

Central News was contacted for comment, but no reply has so far been received.