Cotswold Chatterblog

Date: January 7, 2008

Photo: Cotswold District Council Environmental Wardens Claire Blizzard (left) and Caroline Ballinger with the rubbish dumped between Baunton and Calmsden

Litter louts are being urged to clean up their act by Cotswold District Council’s new waste watchers.

Caroline Ballinger and Claire Blizzard were astonished by the amount of rubbish they found dumped along a quiet country lane in the District.

In a mile-long stretch of road between the villages of Baunton and Calmsden, north of Cirencester, the Council’s two Environmental Wardens picked up:

• A discarded fireplace
• Nine car tyres
• Fuel tank from a car
• Concrete block
• Number plate and wheel trim
• Enough bottles and cans to fill two large boxes
• Bin bag full of general litter
• Broom, bicycle pump and three plants pots

“Most people who live in the District are really keen to keep the Cotswolds clean and to do their bit to reduce waste and to increase recycling,” said Caroline. “However, a small minority of selfish individuals can spoil the environment for everyone else.

“We were amazed by the amount of rubbish that had been dumped along this very short stretch of road – it completely filled the back of our van.
“We would urge these people to stop dumping rubbish in the first place. It’s a totally avoidable problem and Council Tax payers pick up the bill for cleaning it up.”
Fly-tippers can be fined up to £20,000 and one of Caroline and Claire’s roles will be to actively investigate offences.

They will also be encouraging community groups to join in Cotswold District Council’s annual Spring Clean this March and April to target local litter ‘grot spots’.

“We wouldn’t expect local community groups to pick up fireplaces or fuel tanks but litter-picking volunteers can make a big difference to their local environment in a very short space of time,” said Claire.

“Last year, nearly 50 organisations took part in the annual Spring Clean, including parish councils, schools, Scouts, Brownies and WI groups.

“We hope even more groups will join in this year’s clean-up. So why not make it a fun, community event and get everyone involved?”

The Council supplies waste sacks, gloves, tabards and litter-picking tools for the Spring Clean and events organised through the Council will be covered by its insurance.

To register for the Spring Clean 2008, please contact Cotswold District Council’s Waste Communications Officer Mike Harris on (01285) 623123.

Litter louts are being urged to clean up their act by Cotswold District Council’s new waste watchers.

Caroline Ballinger and Claire Blizzard were astonished by the amount of rubbish they found dumped along a quiet country lane in the District.

In a mile-long stretch of road between the villages of Baunton and Calmsden, north of Cirencester, the Council’s two Environmental Wardens picked up:

• A discarded fireplace
• Nine car tyres
• Fuel tank from a car
• Concrete block
• Number plate and wheel trim
• Enough bottles and cans to fill two large boxes
• Bin bag full of general litter
• Broom, bicycle pump and three plants pots

“Most people who live in the District are really keen to keep the Cotswolds clean and to do their bit to reduce waste and to increase recycling,” said Caroline. “However, a small minority of selfish individuals can spoil the environment for everyone else.

“We were amazed by the amount of rubbish that had been dumped along this very short stretch of road – it completely filled the back of our van.
“We would urge these people to stop dumping rubbish in the first place. It’s a totally avoidable problem and Council Tax payers pick up the bill for cleaning it up.”
Fly-tippers can be fined up to £20,000 and one of Caroline and Claire’s roles will be to actively investigate offences.

They will also be encouraging community groups to join in Cotswold District Council’s annual Spring Clean this March and April to target local litter ‘grot spots’.

“We wouldn’t expect local community groups to pick up fireplaces or fuel tanks but litter-picking volunteers can make a big difference to their local environment in a very short space of time,” said Claire.

“Last year, nearly 50 organisations took part in the annual Spring Clean, including parish councils, schools, Scouts, Brownies and WI groups.

“We hope even more groups will join in this year’s clean-up. So why not make it a fun, community event and get everyone involved?”

The Council supplies waste sacks, gloves, tabards and litter-picking tools for the Spring Clean and events organised through the Council will be covered by its insurance.

To register for the Spring Clean 2008, please contact Cotswold District Council’s Waste Communications Officer Mike Harris on (01285) 623123.

Tags: countryside | cotswolds

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