UN-EMPTIED bins are tarnishing a Teesdale museum’s reputation as “the jewel in County Durham’s crown”, it was claimed last week.
Litter has been overflowing bins within the grounds of the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, for several weeks leading to complaints from town residents it is creating a “bad impression” for visitors.
Barnard Castle resident Frank Harrison, who walks his dog daily within the grounds, said: “They haven’t been emptied for around three weeks. There is all this stuff laid on the ground next to the bins. It is disgusting.
“The Bowes Museum is the jewel in the county’s crown and they have stopped doing emptying the bins.”
Discarded crisp packets, drinks cans, carpet and dog poo bags were strewn around the bins with more rubbish on top of bins in the popular woodland walk section at the rear of the museum.
Litter bins at the front of the museum were also at the point of overflowing.
Mr Harrison, who is a town coucnillor, added: “It wants something doing badly and I have had several people complaining to me about the state of it.
“Tourists are going to come to the museum and take a look at the state of the place and it will give a really bad impression. It leaves a lot to be desired.”
A spokesperson for The Bowes Museum said: “Over the bank holiday weekend [in April] The Bowes Museum was a very popular visitor destination. It’s always out intention that everyone experiences us at our best.
“We hope that visitors will accept our apologies for some infrequent bin collections that weekend and will be assured that as we recover from the pandemic, they are being increased.”
