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Nappy days for Blackpool's landaus
THE sight of horse manure on Blackpool Promenade looks set to become a thing of the past as the much-talked about nappies for landau carriages became a reality.
The plastic nappies – or dung catchers as they are known – have now been installed on all 44 of the resort's horse-drawn carriages and became compulsory yesterday.
What do you think about the nappies? Leave your comments below.
The move comes after Blackpool Council's decided to make them mandatory part of the drivers' operating licence when they were renewed this week.
Landau owner Rita Clark, 43, said her mare, Emma, hadn't experienced any problems during her first day using the device.
She said: "The nappies have been ok so far – I must admit I was a bit worried at first because, like most mares, she is quite sensitive about anything touching her rear.
"She's used it twice this morning though, and it seems to be so far so good.
"I don't think any of the drivers have a problem with the nappies in principle – we want to see a clean Promenade as much as anyone.
"What we want to see now, though, is Blackpool Council keeping their side of the bargain by making sure we can dispose of the waste.
"Bins have been put at the landau ranks which we have a key for, so we can empty the nappies.
"The problem is, tourists are piling fast food waste and litter on top of the bins when they find they are locked, so we end up having to wade through rubbish.
"We also need some kind of hand washing facilities at the rank. My husband emptied one of the nappies yesterday and got covered in the dung."
Sorted
Alison Metcalf, of Blackpool Landau Association, said the council need to provide more waste bins for the general public.
She said: "The council said the bins would be sorted by now, but the situation hasn't changed. We have done everything they wanted us to do – the council needs to do its bit. The landau operators shouldn't have to handle rotting food waste which people leave on top of the horse waste bins."
Visitors to the resort gave the scheme a thumbs-up as a way of keeping the Promenade clean.
Louise Cooke, 35, from Croydon, near London, said: "I actually think the nappies are a very clever idea for collecting the waste.
"I heard about the nappies and must admit I had a bit of a giggle but, to be honest, I don't think I would have even noticed them – they are quite discreet."
Lee Jopson, 41, from Bolton, added: "The nappies are a good solution for cleaning up the mess. They are better than just leaving it on the road for people to walk through."
The ruling earned the council the unfortunate accolade "pettifogging bureaucracy of the year award" by the 250,000 readers of Horse and Hound equestrian magazine.
Council bosses defended the decision, however, saying it worked closely with landau owners and sought advice from a leading equine expert and the RSPCA to make sure the horses' welfare was not compromised.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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