Volunteers from The litter pickers in the Alderley Edge in Bloom who regularly litter pick in the village are concerned that the number of cigarette ends dropped on the pavements is increasing.
As a result they have decided that they will not be picking up cigarette ends for the next month (up to mid-February) to highlight the issue and see what the reaction is from local residents, visitors and businesses on London Road.
At the end of the experiment the Bloomers say they are expecting one of three outcomes:
- People dropping the cigarette ends begin to realise the mess they are making and start using bins on London Road and outside ashtrays at bars and restaurants.
- All businesses on London Road adopt their patch of pavement in front of their premises and clean up regularly (many do this already).
- Alderley Edge in Bloom litter picking volunteers have a big task to clean up in late February!
Litter Picking Co-ordinator Judy Turner commented 'We will use this opportunity to demonstrate the scale of the problem and we will report on suggestions and progress in tackling the butts.'
Dropping a cigarette butt is littering and constitutes an environmental crime. It falls under the same category as dog fouling or fly tipping and if caught the offender can be issued a fixed penalty notice by police officers, police community support officers and street environment officers.
Alderley Edge in Bloom volunteers are litter picking part of the A34 bypass from the Merlin roundabout to Brook Lane again this Sunday, 19th January. New volunteers are welcome, you just need turn up at The Merlin car park at 11:45am. You can leave a vehicle there if you sign in and register your car at the bar. After a safety briefing the pick will commence at 12 noon.
Kelvin Briggs said "Bags, hi-viz jackets and litter picking equipment are all provided. The pick should last about an hour. In the interests of safety this pick is for adults only.
"Why not join in and grow pride in our village and its surrounds!"
Share your views on this initiative via the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Thanks Judy and all the team for everything you do for the village.
The routes in and out of the village have significant litter on Monday mornings that 'Alderley Edge in Bloom' volunteers pick up. The sad reality is that by Wednesday it's bad again and our volunteers step in again to clear.
I struggle to understand the mentality of the littering classes and their lack of concern for the environment.
There will be the usual Monday morning Litter Pick tomorrow with volunteers meeting at the Station Car park at 10:00 am. New volunteers are most welcome.
I am a committee member of Wilmslow Clean Team.
I am struggling to understand why you seem to expect businesses to clean land which is not in their ownership. I have spoken to several businesses about this issue in Wilmslow. All have categorically stated that their employees are not covered by insurance to do this and that's why they don't.
If Alderley in Bloom litter pickers insurance is similar to Wilmslow Clean Teams’ then it will only cover them to pick litter on publicly owned land. ie the highway and pavement and publicly owned car parks.
The Wilmslow Clean Team specifically tells its volunteers NOT to go onto private land and pick litter there without the express permission of the landowner. Why? Because it is trespass and also potentially theft.
This all may seem, very petty, but voluntary organisations like ours have to protect themselves from litigation and criminal charges. The legal structure that most voluntary organisations use (Unincorporated Association), makes the committee members personally liable. Hence, we have insurance and health & safety policies and procedures.
The Alderley litter team are referring to cigarette butts dropped on the pavements, not on private land, and it would be no hardship to use a brush, surely!
Sorry if you think I'm being pedantic. I do have Health & Safet Qualifications and am a Chartered Professional.
I'd rather nobody littered, but want to protect those that go out of their way to volunteer to pick up litter on the publicly owned land.
You are quite entitled to your opinions. I just don't agree with them.
I've read many of your comments and suggestions on this alderleyedge.com website over the last couple of years or so and I have to say you seem like an honourable and upstanding citizen who is fed up with all the yobby culture that is increasing almost day by day, what with litter being dropped everywhere, rudeness, selfishness, and the me-me-me society we have bred over many years with the so-called social do-gooders, the Health-and-Safety nutters and the PC Brigade, with the vast majority of people who think like you and me being shouted down by the very small minority of these people, including Left Wing Jobsworths and the useless deadlegs.
Well, it's time we, the majority, should rally against all this nonsense.
We have put up with it long enough !
The "Silent Majority" should strike back and let these creepy irritating individuals know they are in the minority and they should keep their big trap shut !!
Tony, I don't personally know you but THANK YOU for your dedication in trying to make Alderley Edge a safer and cleaner place to live ……. David Hadfield
Confused? You will be after the next episode of Soap. That was one of the opening lines of my favourite 1970's sitcom. Which is what I think this thread is turning into.
I'm quite happy to carry this conversation on, "offline". So if you want to, then please contact me through the Wilmslow Clean Team Website.
https://bit.ly/2RSv5GP
However, if you choose to continue it, and to continue to spread disinformation then I'll just keep responding.
When the Alderley Edge litter picking team was first looking to get set up, they did seek a meeting with Wilmslow Clean Team. We met in Costa Coffee on London Road, and I distinctly remember being there.
You are entitled to your opinion, and so am I. It looks like they are poles apart. But then opposites do attract!