Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Self-help is the only answer to litter

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“Footpaths resemble the rainforest” letter (September edition). It sounds a very similar situation in ”forgotten” Portway, the poor relation of the Beoley Parish.

Here, too, overgrown kerbsides and footpaths resemble the jungles of South America, but with one big difference – the knee-high grass and nettles hide a deadlier prey: rubbish, in its most disgusting form.

The torn and broken drinks cans, shattered bottles and fast-food wrappers give way to tabloid newspapers, abandoned carpets and plastic wheel trims.

Mowing the verges and clearing the footpaths, so residents can walk the country lanes, is of little use, Mr Butcher, if the council are not going to take their own green policy seriously and collect up the rubbish too.

Residents are urged by the council to recycle their household waste, but what about the council’s responsibility to clear and recycle this roadside rubbish?

I wrote to the council and to my local councillor about my concerns and failed to receive an acknowledgement. I can only surmise that all councillors are in hiding until the next election. Roger Butcher asked for help.

Well, the answer, I am afraid, is self-help. In Portway, residents are beginning to mow and clear kerbsides and footpaths themselves.

Not many of us, but a few who feel that they cannot let the area become one giant Brazilian refuse tip. Maybe local dignitaries will join us one day. I can give them a bin bag to fill!

Paul Bridgewater, Portway