Saturday, 10 August 2013
Off to the litter pick
I must express my disappointment at the amount of residue and detritus which has been left scattered over our town over the last couple of holiday weeks. It is one thing to simply call for more bins or special collections another to instil in visitors and indeed some residents that they own their litter and they should take it home with them. The cost of litter collection is spiralling and that cost is carried by the local taxpayer in terms of the annual Council Tax which we have to levy. I am beginning to see a situation where events will have to be self sufficient in dealing and totally clearing the litter rather than just leaving it for the Council to clear. Similarly and where businesses are in some way responsible then it should be for them to deal with the problem in total. A 'TAKE YOUR LITTER HOME' campaign at the main areas of concern may be a good idea but something has to be done to improve the current situation.
I walked to the High Street the other day, something I enjoy often but increasingly the litter issue spoils my meandering and this applies to the High Street also, Saxon Square, now looking very continental with outside areas for customers scattered with paper napkins from the cafes. On my return from leave, litter is going to feature in just how we can keep Christchurch litter free and make it therefore a better place. As it is I am just now leaving home and interrupt my break to join the Purewell litter pick. Perhaps more resident groups would like to set up their own regular activities to clean up their neighbourhood. Frankly, I am not prepared to live with the disregard some visitors have for the tidiness of our town!
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3 comments:
I appreciate we have had many differences in the past, but you will be pleased to know, I will support you 100% on cleaning up the Borough.
Dear Ray.
I am so extremely glad that someone in a position that is able to make a difference has seen and is willing to take responsibility for this problem.
All the areas that you have covered in your message in a perfect world would ordinarily work. The problem is we don’t now live in the perfect world.
People walk through Christchurch and see all the napkins and litter from the cafes and takeaway establishments strewn over the ground, so they see no problem adding to this mess. People have got so lazy, that they are happy to chuck their rubbish out of the car from where they are sat in the car, or along the road where they are driving. It’s a miracle that they actual have the sense to take it to the nearest bin. However, when they find that it’s full, it wouldn’t even enter their heads to walk over to the over empty bins. They then leave at the bottom of the already full one, only for it to be left over night for the animals to tear it apart and hey presto, we go full circle.
The shops and cafes should be made to clear up after their own mess, if not fined. There should be litter wardens fining people who drop litter. You only need to look at the taxi ranks to see when they have emptied the ashtrays of buts straight out into the gutter. It would pay for itself if we had wardens. If you hit these people in the pocket, they then would make an effort to clear up their own mess.
Holiday makers won’t take their rubbish home, because they are going back to either a hotel or a rental cottage, or on a long drive back to where ever they have come from, so won’t want to have the chore of hauling and disposing of the litter that they have generated. On to a loser there I think.
Fine the buggers and get them to think of what there are doing would be the only answer. If not provide larger bins with lids, or empty them in the evening.
Best regards Nick
Thanks for this your point is taken, please see my later blog re the people who have just received heavy fines.
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