Stafford - Drowning under a sea of litter

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Update: Went for a walk along the Weston Road over the weekend. I don't know if it was just the strong winds but there was filth blowing around absolutely everywhere to the point that there was bits of detritus getting wrapped around my ankles - truly disgusting. Something has to be done.

We have a local prison full if folk sitting around "at Her Majesty's pleasure" why can't they be made to go out and do community work like litter picking? It is hardly a highly skilled task. Seems to me that there is ever more need for this given the continued cut backs in Local Authorities. It works in the US.

 

[highguyuk]

Update: Went for a walk along the Weston Road over the weekend. I don't know if it was just the strong winds but there was filth blowing around.

You referring to the Speed Camera Van on Sunday afternoon?

 

[Wolfenrook]

I can't understand why so many people blame lack of bins on littering to be honest. No bin? You carry it with you until you a) find one or b) get home and put it in your own bin. Folks need to stop and take ownership of THEIR rubbish. Takeaway wrappers etc don't suddenly belong to the council once empty of food or drink, so why the fluff do people insist that it's the councils responsiblity to clean it up or provide receptacles for it? Litter bins should be seen as a luxury, rather than a neccessity.

The problem is, I suspect, as Gadget says. We now live in a "don't give an F" society, where it seems such phenomena as the Freudian ego and super ego are a thing of the past, and the Id is just given into. In other words, everybody seems to act like socio/psychopathic toddlers/babies! People need to grow the heck up, and finish the anal phase of their development!

Is it really any wonder that those of us who have a more responsible attitude, and a more mature approach to life, are getting so cheesed off, and start thinking along the antiquated "birch them in the town square" lines of justice and education? When from the ever decreasing standards are so apparent when using more modern methods? Just watch some parents walking down the street with their kids to see the answer. Kid starts doing something naughty (eg. destroying people's plants, breaking trees etc etc), parent "don't do that darling", kid carries on, parent ignores them as after all they did their bit my asking them nicely to stop.... I'll shut up now befoe I make this thread even more controversial. All I will say is my parents weren't so modern, and I have NEVER littered in my entire life and have a healthy respect for other people's property etc.

How is this on topic you ask? Kids litter, kids grow up into adults that litter. From my experience it's how you are raised that often dictates how you behave. The increase of littering in Stafford is directly proportionate to the increase in numbers of mouth breathing idiots.

Ade

 

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Wolfenrook:

I agree, the "there aren't enough bins" argument is a deeply flawed one. When I go out walking and end up on an inpromptu litter pick I don't generally have to progress far until I come across a bin. It really doesn't take much to hold onto your rubbish until you see a bin or take it home. As for littering out of cars, just utterly disgraceful.

I think you did stray into a wider argument of social responsibility and agreed - if people grow up thinking it is OK to litter because no one ever teaches them otherwise it is hardly suprising. We live in a "consequence free" society whereby you can do what you want, when you want and f-off to everyone else.
I'm cautious about confronting anyone I see littering as I don't want to get the defication kicked out of me. I never used to be that fearful about society

 

[Gramaisc]

The 'litter vortex' in front of the old Argos store, at the back of the ex-Woolworths can be quite spectacular on a windy day.

In Port Laoise there are solar powered litter bins. They compact the contents at regular intervals to avoid the bin becoming 'full' with empty bottles and cartons. The required frequency of emptying is thus much reduced.

 

[Theorum]

Germany for the most part is immaculate I was most impressed when I did some travelling there!

Litter in this country shows the lack of cohesion within our society!

Me thinks litter picking for petty/juvenile criminals is a must!

National service? mmmmm!

 

[United57]

When Mac Donalds first opened in London. Everybody took their tray back and cleared away their rubbish. Now most leave it.

 

[Stevo]

Borough Council have done a brilliant job clearing the rubbish and weeds in the back-lane between Cambridge Street and Tithe Barn Road, much nicer to walk down and hopefully will stay clean!

Most of the rubbish I see in my area (Cambridge Street) is takeaway leftovers or alcohol cans, given the increasing number of students in Stafford it's hardly surprising as in my opinion this group lack respect for other people and their surroundings, bit of a generalisation so sorry to decent students.

There does seem to be a massive lack of bins, those I remember are no longer present.

Why are there no leaf clearing machines out and about, Corporation Street is horrible for this!

 

[gilbert grape]

Maybe we should have a purge on Community Service in September & October where people clear the street of litter and at the same time clear paths etc of falling leaves and 1. Bag compostable waste for the council to sell once mulched down & 2. Generally keep the streets tidy.
After all, as said elsewhere, it works in the states.

 

[Gramaisc]

Why are there no leaf clearing machines out and about, Corporation Street is horrible for this!

Maybe we should have a purge on Community Service in September & October where people clear the street of litter and at the same time clear paths etc of falling leaves and 1. Bag compostable waste for the council to sell once mulched down & 2. Generally keep the streets tidy.
After all, as said elsewhere, it works in the states.

There might be a problem in that the leaves may contain tins, fag packets, dog shit, various cardboard and plastic food containers and other random detritus....

 

[The Stafford Beast]

The cars in Corporation Street will soon be covered by the mounds of leaves building up from the gutter. People in those houses will need to dig through the leaves to get to their cars soon, especially as it's so windy at the moment. The road sweepers can't do their job as the cars are always parked on the pavement along there.

Surely they can widen the road a bit on Corp. St. if people need to park in front of the houses instead of around the back?

 

[Graestrummer62]

Perhaps something could be achieved if we had a cohesive community that exhibited a strong sense of consistent values - in person, on the streets rather than groaning away on the forums? With all due respect...



"Genuine respect will come about if we have more contact with one another and come to understand each other’s values. This is how we will develop admiration and appreciation for each other."
Dalai Lama on 12/08/2011

 

[gilbert grape]

Why are there no leaf clearing machines out and about, Corporation Street is horrible for this!

Maybe we should have a purge on Community Service in September & October where people clear the street of litter and at the same time clear paths etc of falling leaves and 1. Bag compostable waste for the council to sell once mulched down & 2. Generally keep the streets tidy.
After all, as said elsewhere, it works in the states.

There might be a problem in that the leaves may contain tins, fag packets, dog shit, various cardboard and plastic food containers and other random detritus....

Would've imagined most of that, bar the tins, is degradable and could be rotted down once shredded? Just a thought...

 

[Wolfenrook]

Perhaps something could be achieved if we had a cohesive community that exhibited a strong sense of consistent values - in person, on the streets rather than groaning away on the forums? With all due respect...



"Genuine respect will come about if we have more contact with one another and come to understand each other’s values. This is how we will develop admiration and appreciation for each other."
Dalai Lama on 12/08/2011

Now go try that theory in the real world. However, please don't expect me to pay your medical bills.

 

[Gramaisc]

Would've imagined most of that, bar the tins, is degradable and could be rotted down once shredded? Just a thought...

There's quite a bit of plastic, though - bottles, sweet wrappers, food trays, plastic bags, etc.

 

[Randlesuk]

Have a look at the pavement from Randles to The Grapes.........

Yes I walk down it everyday, a right mixture of detritus.

Yes I must agree the rubbish we get in our forecourt is terrible and spend a lot of time litter picking too get it looking tidy. Its especially worse after the weekend evenings. Not to mention the damage that we get to our vehicles caused by a small amount of mindless individuals which is very sad as Stafford is such a lovely town. We've now installed 24Hour CCTV to help with this abuse to our property.

Lets hope people start taking pride.

 

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Graestrummer62 wrote:

"Perhaps something could be achieved if we had a cohesive community that exhibited a strong sense of consistent values - in person, on the streets rather than groaning away on the forums? With all due respect..."


Mr 62 - I can confirm that I DO take action on litter in my own area as you will see from earlier posts. I spend my own time several days during the week not to mention the cost of my own bin bags etc picking up what others mindlessly throw around my neighbourhood. I do this because I don't want to live in a area that is covered in other people's rubbish and that by simply leaving it the problem just gets worse. As I am pro-active I think I have thus earned the right to "groan away on forums about it" Have you ever picked up any litter around your community?.....Thought not.

 

[Withnail]

I spend my own time several days during the week not to mention the cost of my own bin bags etc

Council call to action on litter

The borough council has now written to schools, parishes and businesses to offer a loan of litter pickers and bags if they want to get involved in a neighbourhood tidy up. The council will also remove the bagged up litter collected at the end.

If people need some help with community litter picks they can contact the council at dcroberts@staffordbc.gov.uk or 01785 619000.

 

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Thought I would resurrect this thread as this persistant problem seems to be getting worse again. Perhaps it is the nice weather (although that shouldn't be an excuse) but the area around St Marys Church and Victoria Park were pretty bad at times yesterday.

The Weston Road this morning was an absolute disgrace with wind blown litter everywhere. There were also rough sleepers with their bags of stuff kipping in one of the bus shelters - a real shame and perhaps a sign of the hard times we are in. I haven't really noticed that many rough sleepers in Stafford before

 

[Gramaisc]

I haven't really noticed that many rough sleepers in Stafford before

If you ever are a rough sleeper, then you'll find that it is very necessary to attract as little notice as possible. There may be rather more than we think...