MONDAY’S meeting of Penarth Council was interrupted by an old age pensioner who marched into the council chamber and dumped a paper sack of sewage on the table.

Mr Ken Marsh, aged 84, of Cawnpore Street, Cogan, was protesting that drains in the Cogan area frequently overflow and wash sewage into the houses.

Members listened in silence as Mr Marsh sat down in a vacant seat at the debating table and declared, “Now I am going to have my say.

“I don’t mind going to gaol afterwards as long as I stick up for the rights of Cogan.”

Ripping open the bag of muck and silt, he said: “How would you like to have to clear this out of your homes every winter?

“I have just cleaned this out of my sink.

“Have you ever had 3ft. of muck and water through your houses?” he asked members.

“Because next time I have to pick this up, each of you councillors is going to have a bucketful in your front porch.”

Mr Marsh complained that he and his neighbours were forced to put earth-filled sacks in front of their doors to try and stop the sewage seeping in.

“I don’t want to come here and upset you, but it is the only way to make you people sit up,” he said.

After speaking for several minutes, Mr Marsh said he did not want to cause a mess in the Council Chamber by tipping the sewage out – and left, leaving the sack on the table.

The sack was removed from the Council chamber and members went onto the next business without comment.

Mr Marsh was involved in a similar protest at the Council Chamber some years ago, when Cogan was plagued with frogs.

He also took a sample along with him on that occasion.

Editor: They were hopping mad.

PENARTH’S Parks Committee has recommended to the Council that there should be no Christmas tree on the roundabout at Penarth Town centre this year.

Members felt that the appearance of the roundabout was being spoiled for the rest of the year by the erection of decorations during Holiday Week, followed by the tree at Christmas.

If the tree was erected the grass surface of the roundabout would be spoiled and the Parks Department would be unable to plant flowers to make an attractive show next spring and summer.

Members are to consider some other form of marking Christmas at the Town Centre, and a tree may be erected instead in the grounds of the Council offices at Stanwell Road.