Litter is spoiling river site where ashes scattered
COMMUNITY GROUP URGING VISITORS NOT TO LEAVE WASTE, PARTICULARLY PLASTIC
A COMMUNITY group has highlighted the amount of litter being left at a riverside beauty spot set aside for people to scatter loved ones’ ashes.
The section of the River Soar in the Abbey Meadows, Belgrave, has long been used for residents to scatter ashes or to place environmentally friendly offerings, such as flowers.
However, the issue of plastic pollution has been raised in a discussion among members of a community Facebook group, where it was suggested some visitors had also left plastic bags in the water and on the riverside.
We ask that people only place natural, fully biodegradable items in the water
Council spokesman
A platform was installed in Abbey Meadows by Leicester City Council in 2014 for easy access to the water.
Boats are also available from Barrow Upon Soar so families can be taken to scatter ashes on the river.
Bijal Bhagwan, a member of environmental organisation Green Circle CIC, said: “There is always a reason behind the ceremonies that we hold and they are all symbolic.
“There is a significant relevance to mother nature in the things we do, so leaving plastic is almost a contradiction.
“When my grandparents passed away within a short period of each other we held lots of ceremonies and they all mean something.
“We’re so lucky to have a space here that is designated to be able to fulfil these traditions.”
As part of the Green Circle, Ms Bhagwan, from Thurmaston, hopes to work with communities to share a message about keeping the waterways clean while practising cherished traditions.
She is also sending out a message to temples to share the important message in what she hopes will be a cross-community approach to tackling the issue of plastic pollution.
A council spokesman said: “People are permitted to scatter ashes on a stretch of the River Soar.
“A quiet location, close to Abbey Meadows, has been chosen to provide some privacy and to help ensure it should not affect other users of the river.
“We ask that people only place natural, fully biodegradable items in the water and under no circumstances should plastic items be left.
“There are notices on site to reinforce these rules.
“People need to be aware that placing non-biodegradable and potentially dangerous items – such as plastic bags – in the water is littering, causes pollution and can harm local wildlife and biodiversity.
“Non-biodegradable items will need to be removed as part of regular waterway management.”