Warnings over beauty spot rubbish
NEWCASTLE’S beauty spots resembled the aftermath of a music festival on Wednesday morning after being left covered with “disgusting” rubbish.
Popular areas like the Town Moor, Heaton Park, and the City Stadium in Shieldfield were left in a shocking state following Tuesday’s gorgeous weather.
People flocked outside to enjoy the sun and catch up with friends and relatives after lockdown measures were eased on Monday.
But horrified residents woke up on Wednesday to find bins overflowing and beer cans, bottles, and other litter strewn all over the place.
Urban Green Newcastle, the charitable trust which runs the city’s parks, said it was “extremely disappointed at the lack of care and consideration shown to our parks and green spaces by a few inconsiderate people”.
Barbara Hooper, the trust’s director of parks and allotments, added: “The volume of littering seen across many of our parks and green spaces has not only caused a huge drain on resources, but it poses a significant fire risk too, as barbeques have been left amongst the litter.
“Our team of rangers, along with our amazing volunteers from Urban Green Clean, are out in our parks today [Wednesday] to clear the rubbish, and they will be carrying out more patrols over the weekend. We’re also receiving fantastic support from the Local Services team at Newcastle City Council, who are providing extra bins and collections.
“We urge members of the public to please pick up their rubbish and either use the bins provided, or where they are full, take their rubbish home.
“It’s disappointing that a small group of people are spoiling the experience of visiting our green spaces, particularly at a time when spending time outdoors with friends and family is so important.”
One dog walker, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was “horrified” by the mess she saw on the Little Moor at around 7am on Wednesday.
She added: “I understand why people are getting together but please don’t leave a mess like that. The broken glass and the bottles are a hazard.
“Everybody wants to be out in the sun but people shouldn’t behave like that – it is disgusting.”
Jesmond resident Laurence Taylor urged the area’s large student population to be responsible with their litter, after being appalled at scenes on the Town Moor.
He said: “It’s great to see students going out and having fun – it’s been a hard year for them as much as anyone. And a lot of them were really responsible and cleared their rubbish away. So a big thank you to them.
“Unfortunately there were also a lot who didn’t seem to care last night, and they’ve made the local residents furious. Please, clean up after yourself, it’s hard enough trying to keep relations good between students and residents without this going on.”
Ouseburn ward councillor Alistair Chisholm found a “messy morning after the night before” when he passed the City Stadium on Wednesday.
He said: “Celebrating is one thing, disrespecting neighbours and public spaces is another. I’m sorry that Hotspur pupils and other passers-by had to put up with this.”
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council added: “Litter is a blight on our communities and there is no excuse for dropping it.
“We know the public hates it as much as we do as not only does it make our city look untidy, it damages the environment and diverts funds that could be better spent on other, more worthwhile services for our communities.
“Where litter is left on the land we manage, we clean it up as quickly as possible.
“Yet this is an issue we cannot tackle alone and our continuing message to residents is that this is your city and your home and we need you to share the responsibility for making and keeping it the clean, green, brilliant place we all want it to be.
“Of course, with warmer weather, lockdown restrictions easing, children off school, and a bank holiday weekend coming up, more people are looking to enjoy Newcastle’s wonderful outdoor spaces.
“However, that is not a licence for inappropriate behaviour – be it failing to dispose of your rubbish appropriately, failing to keep yourself and others safe from the ongoing pandemic, or ignoring rules around drinking alcohol in public places.
“If you are out, be respectful of others; remember Covid rules are still in place; and use the bins provided and if one is full, find another or take your rubbish home.”