PARK users are concerned about parks being littered with mess if dog poo bins are removed by the council.

Harrow Council is planning to remove the bins from all parks to save £35,000 in collections costs.

Owners would instead have to dispose of poo in the standard rubbish bins, used for all litter, but park users are worried this may deter them from clearing the waste at all.

Joanne Verden, the environment spokesperson for Pinner Association, said: “I have been down to Pinner Memorial Park and there are so many children on the grass and babies crawling around. If the dog bins are removed this could cause a huge health risk to the residents and their children. It would discourage dog walkers and owners from picking up the dog poo.

“If enough people care about this issue, hopefully we can stop the council from removing them and causing all sorts of problems.”

Several concerned readers have written to the Observer, including Lynda Hopkins, who walks her dog in Roxbourne Park, Pinner, every day.

She said: “ We have been advised to throw the dog waste into the ordinary litter bins in the park. These two litter bins are often full or, especially after the weekend, overflowing. The alternative is to take the waste home and put it into the green dustbins.

“I have spoken to several dog walkers and they refuse to take the waste home. One told me she will throw the waste into the children’s play area dustbins – that’s disgusting.”

Ms Hopkins said she has written to Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas and is awaiting a response.

Dave Bolton, who lives in Rayners Lane, which backs on to Roxbourne Park, walks his dog every day.

The voluntary warden for Roxbourne Rough Nature Reserve said: “I think removing the dog bins is a big backwards step. It has taken ages for people to pick up the dog poo in the first place, but now the council want to remove the bins and make people take it home, which I don’t think they will do.

“If they are going to remove the dog poo bins then they should increase the number of litter bins.”

The council told the Observer the dog waste collection is a specialist service provided by contractors and removing the bins and the additional collection service will save £35,000.

Mic Sayer, of Harrow Recreation Ground Users Association (HRUA), said: “Have the council’s officers considered a hot August weekend afternoon?

“Surely there will be a stench enough to drive people from our parks, or do the council not care?”