Why such dirty streets - Page 2

Margaret Pilkington · 13-07-2006, 19:23

We had rellies over from Oz a month ago and I was embarassed for them to see the state of the town centre. If you tell people(even politely) that they have dropped litter, you are likely to get a mouthful of abuse or maybe even worse.
It boils down to lack of parental control....you can see quite young children eating a pasty in town and throwing their paper bag on the floor....parents don't check them......like it is someone else's job to clean up their mess....the kids don't know any different do they?

SPUGGIE J · 13-07-2006, 20:03

No civic pride in many nowadays unfortunately.

cashman · 13-07-2006, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

We had rellies over from Oz a month ago and I was embarassed for them to see the state of the town centre. If you tell people(even politely) that they have dropped litter, you are likely to get a mouthful of abuse or maybe even worse.
It boils down to lack of parental control....you can see quite young children eating a pasty in town and throwing their paper bag on the floor....parents don't check them......like it is someone else's job to clean up their mess....the kids don't know any different do they?

you must have seen the posh kids margaret ive seen em throwing half the ruddy pasty.

SPUGGIE J · 13-07-2006, 20:23

I make sure my daughter bins all her rubbish and though she mumps about it she knows at least she aint dirtying the streets and should be proud of it.

West Ender · 13-07-2006, 21:20

When I had a very old dog I never took her out on walks without pooper-scooper bags as, from being the cleanest dog in the world, she became rather incontinent in old age - she lived to be 16. It wasn't a big problem to clean up after her and it always enraged me, and still does, to find dog-mess around on the ground. The worst problem, though, is chewing-gum. The stuff is everywhere, squashed into grey splats all over the pavements, filthy and unhygienic.

Next to that is the discarded fast-food wrapper. Why do the English assume that someone else will always clean up their mess? My eldest daughter, much braver than I, once picked up a paper half full of chips, thrown from a car on to the pavement, and shoved it back on to the lap of the woman who'd thrown it saying, "I think this is yours". The woman was so shocked she didn't say a word - but she didn't throw it out again while we were watching.

I hate litter-louts with a vengeance. I just wish I had my daughter's guts to make a stand.

Madhatter · 13-07-2006, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee

I totally agree with all thats been said... im a proud owner of two lovely dogs and i wouldnt dream of letting them foul the pavement..even my own garden is kept spotless an washed every day after them...i can appreciate people not likeing dog fouling because i myself hate it...As for litter, dont know about hyndburn yet but here in blackpool there are wardens patroling the town centre and if you are caught dropping gum litter or even a ciggy you get an on the spot fine..and since it came into force town is a much cleaner place more towns should do this

Post on blackpool web saying the bins are overflowing though.

Madhatter · 13-07-2006, 22:17

Our council does a lot to try to clear up town centre rubbish, mainly because the town council won't let the borough council get away with it. When the borough refused to provide sunday street cleaning, to clear up after saturday night so that it was clean for sundays tourists, they started hiring someone themselves.
The town council got praised for it, so the borough decided to start cleaning on a sunday.
I think it can go too far, such as using the towns cctv to spot people dropping cigarette butts, but people dropping happy meal boxes then yes, especially when there's a bin.

I often pick the rubbish up in the street and bin it because the flats grounds don't have a boundry fence. It blows straight in to the flower beds.
I've also gone out on a saturday morning wombling as part of the national spring clean event in the town. I am proud of our little town.

SPUGGIE J · 13-07-2006, 23:14

Linlithgow has the cleaners out at all hours to keep the place tidy. Its a wierd sight at 06:30 on a Sunday morning when these guys are doing ther crud cleaning. Dosnt make much difference as its a vicious circle.

katex · 14-07-2006, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

i would say its the british mentality in general, when i lived in spain we used to nip over to gibralter every 2/3 weeks and boy could you tell we owned it, agree with fireman its all about parents and respect which sadly has diminshed in many cases.

Can't agree with the Spain thing Cashman, when I have been over to visit my friend in Denia, lots of dog muck on the streets .. there again, flags are more of a light marble appearance, so could show up more.

She lives under a 'mountain' and there is a route to climb to the top. Only went half way, in open toe-sandals mind you, as soon became obvious that this was the unofficial dog-walking path, the dog muck was everywhere and the smell... yuk. National Park too.

I know we still have a long way to go, but certainly there is not as much on our streets as used to be.. have walked around and takes me some time to find this offending mess, can't remember the last time I stood in some and had to come home and wipe off with newspaper. There again, in car more now.

Chewing gum and other litter far worse though. Hope my kids do carry on with what they have been taught. Think so, daughter once pulled up next to a Royal Mail van and driver threw his litter out the window.. she wound hers down and called him a dirty b**tard, etc., and would report him.

Know it is the responsiblity of parents, but would like to ask also what type of movements there are for teaching this in schools. Would think role-playing best type 'Ya know .. 'here is your waste Little Johnny, over there is a bin, I will guide you to put same in t'bin. There, that not so hard, is it ?. Now you do it all on your own'

Gayle · 14-07-2006, 19:52

Apparently Hyndburn was named as the dirtiest borough in Lancashire last week - no surprise huh?

katex · 14-07-2006, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Apparently Hyndburn was named as the dirtiest borough in Lancashire last week - no surprise huh?

Read that myself Gayle, I am saddened. Perhaps tackle one type of litter at a time.

Was suggestions to ban chewing gum, although, like to salivate me gums meself, do you think a ban should be imposed. ? Or are we getting into human rights again ? Ok Jambutty over and out.

Madhatter · 14-07-2006, 20:56

Chewing gum is a major problem as are fag ends, i picked about 50 up out the front earlier.
The main problem with gum and butts is that people don't see them as litter. People need re-educating in this country, I can't remember the last time I saw an anti litter campaign. Its all very well using the towns cctv and and ground enforcers but if people don't realise it's wrong.

Gayle · 14-07-2006, 21:00

In Blackburn they tried putting gum boards up - the idea being that people would stick their gum on the board instead of on the floor - all that happened was that instead of ugly gum lying on the floor it was on the wall. I suppose the main benefits were that the board could be removed regulary and also that no one got sticky gum on their shoes. I think it was a short lived initiative.

Madhatter · 14-07-2006, 21:24

what is wrong with putting it a litter bin?

magily · 14-07-2006, 23:34

Eeeeeewwww!!!!!! I am disgusted to think that someone in authority had the mentality to think that gum boards in B/burn are a good idea. Perhaps they should consider removing the ideas person as well as the boards. Is that what that thing stuck on the Cathedral is for :-)