I have already posted a news story about the problems with litter and dog mess around the cycle path between Beetons Way and Spring Lane. While this post retreads some of that ground, I am more interested in your views on the wider problem.

The blame for the amount of litter can’t be put at the door at any one group of individuals. However, its concentration seems to be greatest in those areas around, and on popular routes to and from, our town’s schools. I have certainly witnessed many young people in the town simply dropping litter in the street, often within 100 yards of a bin, and walking nonchalantly on. Is this an increasing problem or are my advancing years just making me more conscious of it?

The route I am most familiar with in terms of daily quantities of litter is down Springfield Road, along Spring Lane and down the Cycle Path to Beetons Way, up past the Barracks (along the footpath) to Risbygate Street and back to Chancellery Mews. This is one of the main walks I do with Rufus and there is quite clearly a big problem with litter. The Google Map below shows the route I take.

Parts of this route (excluding Springfield Road) are also heavily used by school children and students. Now, whether the amount of litter is simply a reflection of the amount of traffic coupled with irregular cleaning (when compared to the town centre) or whether it is down to the people using the route, I am not certain. What is certain is that it does not create a very good impression of our town.

My questions to you are as follows:

Do younger generations simply feel it acceptable to drop litter or is it a wider problem across all age groups?

Is it more a case of less frequent cleaning regimes coupled with more people using certain routes?

Are there simply not enough bins?

Should we be much harder on those who drop litter?

Rest assured I will be pressing for more litter picks in the identified areas but, clearly, preventing the litter being dropped in the first place would be the preferred solution. I’d be interested to know your thoughts.

Click here to read the news story about my proposal for more bins between Spring Lane and Beetons Way.