A CONTROVERSIAL enforcement company has not stopped Wrexham’s litter problem.

That is the view of town MP Ian Lucas, who called on Wrexham Council to follow the example of two fellow North Wales authorities and end its agreement with Kingdom Enforcement,

Posting on Facebook, he said: “Kingdom is a private company. Wrexham Council is employing it to, they say, address litter problems in the town. Anyone who walks round Wrexham knows how bad the litter problem is.

“I attended a litter pick with Cllr Adrienne Jeorrett in Smithfield Ward recently where 20 bags of rubbish were collected in two wet hours.

“If Kingdom is meant to be ending the litter problem, it hasn’t.

“What Kingdom has done is infuriated Wrexham people and businesses who have complained to me about harassment by Kingdom staff.

“In one case, overturned on appeal, a lady with dementia was ticketed for dropping a cigarette end, with no warning or caution.

“Businesses tell me it is discouraging people from coming to Wrexham town centre.”

Mr Lucas noted how Anglesey and Gwynedd councils had decided to end their agreements with Kingdom. “I want Wrexham Council to do the same,” he said.

“I see no evidence that Kingdom is working in Wrexham and by the way, Wrexham Council could start to clean up Wrexham by clearing the mess its own contractors have made in Central Avenue, Acton.

“The council has converted the old children’s nursery to an ugly workshop in the middle of a residential street, much to the annoyance of local residents who contacted me.

“Wrexham Council should put its own house in order.”

Cllr David A Bithell, Wrexham Council’s lead member for environment and transport, said “We closely monitor all our contracts for compliance and members have supported the tough stance on litter, and that will continue.

“I will reinforce that message again: if you don’t drop litter or allow your dog to foul you have nothing to fear.

“Our officers meet on a regular basis with Kingdom to address any issues which may arise and since we introduced kingdom to Wrexham the number of tickets issued have reduced.

“Litter is a problem nationally and I don’t understand why people don’t act responsibly in disposing of their litter.

“Its costs Wrexham Council and the tax payer at least £1.2 million pounds a year to clean our streets, so I ask Wrexhamites: please, think before you drop litter and keep our streets clean.”