The Parish Council discussed the problem of litter in the village this week and resolved to approach Cheshire East Council to address the issue.
Cllr Melanie Connor raised the subject of litter at the Parish Council meeting on Monday, 12th March, saying "I have never seen the village look so dirty. It is an absolute disgrace. If I find another disposable nappy in a little bag I'll scream."
Cllr Connor added "It is not people passing through the village it is residents dropping litter.
"I think we should get the primary school children to design some posters to get people thinking about litter and to clean up for the Queen's Jubilee."
Cllr Mike Williamson suggested talking to Cheshire East's Streetscape and the Local Area Partnership (LAP) about getting some unpaid work people to held clean up but Cllr Keegan pointed out "We are already paying for litter to be collected by Cheshire East Council, there are standards and there is legislation. We can get them to come on a regular basis to clean up the village."
He added "We don't want to ask them or beg them through the LAP, the law is there already."
Wilmslow Town Council are in the process of organising a spring clean for the town and have allocated a budget of £3000 towards the week long event in May.
What do you think about litter in the village, is it a problem which seems to have got worse in recent months, do you think a spring clean up is a good idea? Share your views using the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
It is great to see the field regularly full of kids being coached or playing matches, however there seems little regard for the rubbish they leave behind. Further to this the people who run the club seem to think it is acceptable to just dump rubbish next to their club house rather hire a skip or commercial bin. Over the months this has grown to be a substantial waste heap.
This sort of behaviour just encourages further littering by the general public and the whole place is a total disgrace and abuse of the clubs right to use the field. (Lisa, I'll photograph it this evening).
This is just one example, the whole village is a state. However I have to disagree with Cllr Connor as most of the rubbish I see being dropped, or rather thrown, is from cars as people leave the village. Especially fish and chip packaging from Fosters.
A spring clean is a great idea as not only is it the only way to get rid of what is already there, there will be a percentage of people who will be prepared to drop rubbish on a dirty street but strangely feel uncomfortable if it is clean.
Do the residents have no pride in their village's appearance?
I was always taught to take my litter home with me, and as a dog owner myself, I cannot imagine why anyone would leave their dogs' mess on a busy pavement. I teach my children to have the same respect for their environment too, especially when I have had to clean off dog muck from their shoes and my carpets!
They say it is difficult as they have to cordon off half the road. My partner and I who walk locally on a daily basis, frequently take carrier bags and clean up.
In the mean time i have visited the sight and removed the litter, the rest of the items (pallets) will be removed tomorrow. I have also contacted the local parish council with my details again, so any further complaints can be dealt with direct with myself to ensure these types of situations do not get out of hand again.
The A34 is scheduled to have a full sweep, litter pick and any further maintenance who's responsibility falls to Cheshire East Streetscape on the 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th of April. This schedule will then be done around 6 months later.
Wesley Hutton C.E.C Streetscape
Thanks on behalf of all of us who had to look at the mess.
On a similar point, one thing I have seen in Holmes Chapel, is a day where all the locals, including kids, get together and give the village a real spring clean. I was only passing but it looked like there was a real community atmosphere and dare I say it a bit of fun.
Would the council support such a day through the provision of literature, gloves etc and a means to get rid of the rubbish?
Lisa, would it get your support with regards to advertising it and getting people to turn up?
These activities take place all over. We currently have friends groups all over Cheshire East. We supply the litter pickers, yellow vests, gloves and bin liners. Then collect the equipment and full bags after the litter pick has taken place. There is a group in Wilmslow, Adlington, Macclesfield just to name a few. Some are community groups and the large one within Macclesfield is the local Church group, which usually gets around 70 volunteers.
The pattern I see a lot is people eating the fish and chips in the car, then rather than getting out to put it in the bin, driving 100yds down the road until out of sight and then just throwing it out of the window.
Secondly, Wesley, could I have your contact details? I'd be interested in looking at setting something up.
Thanks
Jeremy
The parish council have my contact details including my e-mail address. I have also contacted Lisa who says she will send my details to you.
I will also have a bin installed on Chorley Hall field, the footballers and supporters should not be putting litter there but in their defence, there was no bin there and i feel there should be one.
You don't need to defend these litter bugs, there is no excuse for littering. They won't do that in their own garden why do they think it's ok to do so in public spaces!
Personally I would prefer the football teams and supporters to clear it!
I agree that a lot of rubbish is thrown out of car windows ( just look at the Chelford Road) but we can all start by addressing ourselves and our local enviroment. Bins are only good when CEC empties them. They are left to overflow and then it gets blown etc.
I was amazed when i walked to the football field and saw all the mess. Unbelievable that parents would show their children that it is OK to dump rubbish like that.
Glad we're all working together on this and lets hope by kick starting a campaign and a discussion we can clean it all up.
Cll Duncan Herald and myself have already had the park cleaned ( rubbish everywhere, especially on the embankment), but I think this will need a lot more peole involved.
I will be pushing CEC to look at and revise the schedule of cleaning in the village.
Please can you post "hot spots" for litter & dog mess, so that we can work on the worst offences soonest. Thanks
I will send an e-mail to the wardens today to ask if they can spend more time in Alderley edge, especially near the shops has Adrian as just commented.
There are 2 bins within Alderley that constantly overflow as someone puts all of their household waste into them, one in particular is the bin at the top of the steps leading into Alderley park. The only way C.E.C. can combat this is to remove the bin and we all know that this will make the area more littered.
As for dog fouling, one of the worst areas is the bowling green. My staff were mowing it last year when someones dog ran on to the green and fouled, the gentleman mowing the green then asked the lady to clear it up and she gave him a mouthful of abuse and left it. So even C.E.C. employees get abuse.
Unfortunately, the world has gone mad, no-one cares any more about dropping litter or dogs fouling, even in what people class as a high profile area like Alderley Edge and when you approach offenders, your more likely to receive a mouthful of abuse or sometimes worse.