Member of the Senedd, Peter Fox visited Abergavenny on Friday November 19 to meet with volunteer group Keep Abergavenny Tidy (KAT) to discuss issues affecting the groups’ litter-picking.

Accompanied by his administrator, Liz Hacket Pain, Mr Fox was interested to know about the work of KAT, with group co-ordinator Helen Trevor Davies informing him that there were over 60 group members with several members regularly taking part in the monthly group litter picks.

Peter Fox listened attentively to the particular issue raised by Jim and Joyce Neale about the amount of human waste in laybys on local trunk roads.

They said that this involved human faeces and bottles of urine.

Maggie O’Connor said that this was a national problem and explained that there were not enough toilet facilities particularly for lorry drivers.

The KAT group had previously raised this issue with Huw Owen, Public Health Inspector for Monmouthshire County Council in July.

Mr Fox agreed to liaise with Huw Owen, as well as South Wales Trunk Roads and Tom Ward-Jackson from Keep Wales Tidy and his colleagues in the Senedd to enquire as to why toilet facilities were closed on the A40 near Monmouth.

Various helpful ideas for KAT to pursue were also raised at the meeting including engaging young people with litter-picking and networking with other litter-picking groups in the area to explore the possibility of a conference.

KAT members thought that the meeting was constructive and supportive and looked forward to Peter Fox’s feedback following his discussions.

He agreed to meet KAT members at a future date to review the situation and this was most welcomed.

In his email after the meeting Peter Fox said: “It was a real pleasure to meet with members of KAT.

‘‘These selfless volunteers do so much in and around Abergavenny week-in, week-out to keep the environment free from litter and rubbish. As well as learning about the breadth of what they do, I also sadly learnt of some unpleasant things they have to contend with, things that motorists leave behind. To all members of KAT a big thank you for all you do. “