By Judith Phillips, Reporter
LLANDUDNO'S Great Orme is one of our area's greatest natural assets. Its views, which on a clear day extend as far as the hills of Cumbria, are world renowned, and its other attractions include the 4,000-year-old copper mines - reputed to be the oldest industrial site in Europe - unique fauna and flora, including a rare species of butterfly and the feral goats, the tram, which is one of only three of its kind in the world, and the cabin-lift.
So why is it there are people who have little regard for its wild beauty, and use it as a dumping place for their litter, and fail to clean up after their dogs? Last Friday we took our grandchildren for a picnic at one of our favourite spots just above St Tudno's Church.
First we had to search for a spot to lay our rug which was free of the dog excrement which was scattered around. That achieved, we ate our sandwiches and packed the foil wrappings carefully away in the boot of the car. Assuring ourselves the spot was pristine, we then set off to walk to the summit.
Returning an hour or so later we found that other picnickers had driven off leaving a pile of unwanted food and wrappings on the grass close to our car, attracting a gaggle of raucous seagulls who were enjoying the feast.
Nearby my husband picked up two disposable barbecue trays, several drinks cartons, cans and takeaway food trays and then looked round for a litter bin to place them in. To his surprise there wasn't one, even though this is a popular picnic spot where the council has thoughtfully provided a couple of picnic tables and benches. The lack of a bin doesn't excuse those who thoughtlessy dump their litter or fail to pick up after their dogs, but it obviously doesn't help the situation.
At this point I have to say that I'm sure the vast majority of dog owners and picnickers are thoroughly responsible, but I would appeal to the small minority who aren't to think twice before they violate our beauty spots in this way. How would they like it if I dumped beer cans, polystyrene trays and cardboard cartons on their front gardens? Have they no regard at all for our natural environment?
And a final request to Conwy County Council: please provide more litter bins on the Orme and empty them regularly. Other than those at the summit complex and the halfway tram station there are none as far as I'm aware. One at the picnic spot near St Tudno's Church would be welcome, as wouldone at another popular picnic site and litter blackspot at the "tank tracks" off Marine Drive near the Rest and Be Thankful Cafe.
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