Litter and abuse blighting parks
LITTERBUGS have blighted Halton’s beauty spots and verbally abused parks staff sparking a plea for residents to take their rubbish home.
Halton Borough Council has now released pictures showing the huge amount of waste removed in a single Saturday around Runcorn and Widnes’s green oases.
The local authority said the time spent picking up the litter could have been spent on other work, and to make things worse some parks staff have been verbally abused.
Spike Island is reported to have been particularly badly hit and residents have been urged to do their bit by taking their rubbish home.
A Halton Council spokesman quoted a parks team leader on duty as having branded the situation a ‘daily occurrence’ during nice weather and said it detracts from other essential work such as grass cutting.
Cllr Ron Hignett (physical environment) said there was no excuse for dropping litter.
He said: “If bins are full, take your rubbish home with you.
“Groups of up to six can meet now, but you do need to keep social distance. Please be respectful of our staff, they’re trying to keep the parks nice for people to use.
“We have always thought of our parks as jewels in Halton’s crown. “And the public agrees.
“Thanks to all the council staff and the many volunteers who help make them look so good.
“Let’s not have all that good work undone by a mindless minority.”
Paul Boardman, Halton Council’s open spaces parks manager, said:
“It has been encouraging to see our parks so well used during the recent pleasant weather; we are thankful for those that enjoy our facilities responsibly.
“In partnership with Keep Britain Tidy as part of their nationwide “Love Parks” campaign we are encouraging visitors to ‘be kind to our parks’ by treating them, and our staff, with respect”
The council has been running a month-long campaign with Keep Britain Tidy urging residents to send in pictures of wholesome activities in its parks, with the hashtag #LoveHaltonsParks.