This is great, but people must accept responsibility

THERE has, of course, been a lot to exercise the minds of councils, their councillors and their officers this past year. But that does not mean the mundane, every-day business of local authorities has ceased.

The perennial issue of rubbish collection and the problem of littering was brought into sharp relief when the first lockdown eased and people were once more allowed to go outside and enjoy time together in places like Southsea Common.

But as the mess left on Southsea Common proved, people may have been able to modify their behaviour in some areas during the pandemic, but to not leave behind their mess behind was sadly beyond a significant number.

The sheer volume of food, packaging, drinks cans, disposable barbecues and various other bits of detritus scattered across our public spaces was utterly disgusting and thoroughly shaming.

A common refrain from apologists for this behaviour was: ‘There aren’t enough bins.’

To its credit, the city council responded with the eye-catching ‘Don't be a din – put it in the bin’ campaign, part of which was to put out 36 new recycling bins around the common and seafront area.

With those bins being deemed a success, 30 more are follow.

Of course, the proof of the pudding is always in the eating, and we won’t be able to see how truly effective these new bins are until people are once more out in force in our public spaces, which isn't likely to be until the weather turns warmer again and we are hopefully free of, or operating under looser Covid-related restrictions.

It would be nice to think that everyone will take responsibility for their own actions, and if the bins are full, take their rubbish home with them. Parks, the common and the seafront are places we should take pride in. It’s a shame not everyone can manage to see that.