FRUSTRATED traders in Weymouth claim overgrown grass, litter and dog mess is affecting their businesses and say they feel ‘forgotten’ by the council.

Ian Spracklen of A&I Quality Meats, and Graeme Fernie of Chapelhay Fish and Chip Shop, are both based at Gordon Row, Chapelhay, and say the mess is putting people off visiting the area.

The business owners claim the overgrown grass has not been cut in six months, litter is constantly overflowing and the sheer volume of dog mess is blighting the area.

Ian and Graeme say they have contacted Weymouth and Portland Borough Council on numerous occasions, who have ‘dismissed or fobbed off’ the problem.

Ian, who opened his butcher shop at Chapelhay just one month ago, said: “We’re trying to run successful businesses here and it seems no-one wants to come here or listen to us.

“We try our best to keep our shops clean and tidy but when people are faced with this mess outside it puts them off.

“We want to give a bit back to the local community but this is stopping us from doing that. It’s just not right.”

The local traders are asking for a waste bin at St Leonard’s Road, clear signage at both ends of Gordon Row in relation to dog fouling, regular maintenance of the grassed areas and action to fix the ‘currently unsafe’ public walkways.

Graeme said he opened his fish and chip shop on March 20 last year and that Chapelhay seems like a ‘forgotten land’.

He added: “Outside our shops the area is, quite frankly, a tip. The grass hasn’t been cut since October and the place looks like a bombsite that has been forgotten.

“If you think about the fact that children play round the area too, the mess is disgusting.

“We want to enhance the area for the local community and for ourselves but this is ruining our livelihoods.”

Cllr John Birtwhistle, who represents Weymouth East, said the mess had been an ongoing problem and a cause of frustration for quite some time.

Graham Duggan, head of community protection at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “Our parks and open spaces team maintain this area on a monthly basis from April to September.

“The area will receive attention next week.”

A spokesperson for the Dorset Waste Partnership added: “We litter pick this grassed area when we clean the surrounding streets.

“We will visit this area to litter pick and empty any overflowing litter bins as necessary.”