Hobby drags up more work for litter pickers
I am a member of aylestone meadows appreciation Society (amaS) and I, along with other amaS members, regularly pick up litter from the canal towpath in aylestone.
Unfortunately, this “litter” often includes metal taken from the canal and discarded on the towpath by magnet fishers. Because the items are not near a road they need to be carried to the nearest pick-up point.
amaS members have dragged ancient safes (no doubt from past burglaries), metal poles, bicycles and all sorts of other items along the towpath to the nearest vehicular access point.
When challenged, magnet fishermen (sorry, but it seems to be men!) tend to say that it is okay because “they” will come and take it away.
When asked who “they” would be, they don’t seem to know! In fact, if “they” don’t come and take the items away they quickly find their way back into the canal for the next lot of magnet fishers to find and the whole cycle begins again.
It is positive the council and the police are taking this issue seriously. Cyclists and walkers on the towpath are at considerable risk from discarded items, particularly in the dark winter months.
Perhaps some prominent notices near bridges and car parks would be useful, along with a presence at weekends. If any magnet fishers are reading this, I suggest you take up a more productive and less anti-social hobby than hauling bits of old metal out of the water. You really are never going to find that crock of gold! Anne Hayto, Secretary, Aylestone
Meadows Appreciation Society
Leicester