‘It’s now a health hazard’ - Concern over pile of 50 dog poo bags left on Midlothian path for nine days after council told

Paul Gilbertson first noticed the dog waste bin, next to Rose Grove, overflowing on April 18 and reported it to the local authority two days later when he noticed it had been removed and dumped in a nearby burn by vandals.

College lecturer Mr Gilbertson, 43, said the pile has since increased in size and that he reported it to the council for a second time on Monday this week and was told it would be prioritised - but he was not given a timescale. He is aware of several other locals who have complained to the council about the escalating issue.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Mr Gilbertson said: “It’s now a health hazard, 50 plus bags of poo where people and children are walking past, and children play down near the burn there.

Stanton the Cocker Spaniel standing beside the pile of dog waste bags. Pic: Paul Gilbertson.

“I left the house at 8.30am and took the dog out at 7.30am and it was still there.”

Nine days on from first raising the concern, he was fearing no action would be taken.

But Midlothian Council told the Edinburgh Evening News on Thursday afternoon that someone from their waste services team had gone to the spot today and found the bags were already lifted. They will organise a clean up, possibly on Friday, and will replace the bin with a bigger one.

Pictures taken on Wednesday show Mr Gilbertson’s Cocker Spaniel Stanton, named after the Hibs footballer, standing beside the pile of dog waste bags on the path looking decidedly unimpressed.

Mr Gilbertson is concerned that the problem will not be dealt with by the council.

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