Woodford Hotel patrons vent about horse manure on wheelchair ramp

You expect to see the occasional horse in rural towns, but staff at a popular pub north of Brisbane have vented about the s**tstorm that confronts them every week. And it seems poo is a widespread problem in the town.

You expect to see the occasional horse in rural towns, but patrons at a popular pub north of Brisbane have vented about the s**tstorm that confronts them when they drop in for an ale.

Employees at the Woodford Hotel also were unimpressed at those responsible for leaving horse droppings on the footpath outside their venue, multiple times a week, which they had to clean up.

Staffer Jasmine Brown posted on a local community page that it had become a significant problem, occurring weekly and sometimes every few days.

“It’s become a constant thing that the Woodford Hotel staff have to clean up your horse crap, in front of the entrances of the hotel,” she posted about the poo perpetrators.

“(It is) including on our wheelchair access ramp. We have had enough.

Horse manure outside the entrance to the Woodford Hotel. Picture: Facebook/Woodford Community Information Page

“We serve amazing food and cold drinks. We aren’t stable hands and should not have to constantly clean up.

“Out of respect, just give us a call and let a staff member know and we will come out and lend you a hand, supply gloves, a bag etc anything you may need to remove the manure.

“The staff love seeing the horses around town, also most of us are horse owners/riders as well so absolutely no hate towards anyone riding there horse in town.

“Also a lovely person came into the hotel tonight to apologise about today’s mess.”

One Woodford resident, Ellie May, posted that she had also seen horse droppings outside a local daycare centre.

Some residents believed teenagers riding horses down Archer St were responsible for the droppings.

Woodford Hotel staff cleaning up horse droppings outside their venue. Picture: Facebook/Woodford Community Information Page

Ashlee Black wrote: “As a horse rider I’m disgusted that other horse riders think this is ok.

“What an embarrassment to our equine community.”

Tim Wease posted: “Same happens up the top end of town too.

“Last week severely physically compromised people visiting the podiatrist had to try walk around it on and off footpath. “

Bec Smith commented: “It’s completely disgusting and disrespectful. Our gym class had to dodge some in town the other day.”

While most locals were unimpressed, some said the sight of horses being ridden through town was part of its “aesthetic’’ and a part of any rural community.

The Woodford Hotel.

Stephen Amos wrote: “Who rides into town? Plenty of us locals, as it is a rural town where people own horses.

“Used to ride in every Sunday to the hall. Last time I rode into town I had breakfast at Sticks and Stones, they didn’t mine my patronage.

“My horse waited out side and many people stop and had a pat of the horse.’’

State Government legislation stipulated that animal owners must not allow droppings on a road to cause a problem for motorists.

A City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said Council had not received complaints from any businesses this year.

“The Local Laws Branch has not received any customer service requests regarding horse faeces in a relevant public place at Woodford,” they said.

“If a horse defecates in a prescribed public place the person who is in control of the horse must immediately remove and dispose of the faeces in a sanitary manner.

“The prescribed public places are town centres and formed footpaths. The penalty is $310.”