Can anybody clear this up?

It’s no exaggeration to say the editor of the Peterborough Telegraph could, if he wanted to, run a twopage spread on litter every week. He could also do a ‘litter special’ edition with every single story in the paper being a rubbish one ( you can have that one for free, you lovely social media trolls).

It is a huge problem in Peterborough and the surrounding area as it is up and down the country.

I’ve no idea where Peterborough sits in the ‘litter league table’ but whether it’s top or bottom or somewhere in between it doesn’t matter – the fact is there is too much of it.

Last week the editor did devote two pages to litter issues – and if you care about your city, your fellow residents and the environment, nay, the future of the planet, it didn’t make for pleasant reading.

There were disgusting pictures of the latest build up of mess left at the notorious Norwood Lane.

On a positive note there were the community spirited actions of Bretton residents and pupils from Thomas Deacon Academy who were out and about picking up other people’s litter.

But perhaps most disturbingly was the story about the 73 bags of rubbish collected by rangers at Ferry Meadows.

Disturbing because this is the work of apparently decent, law abiding (albeit lazy) people who presumably enjoy being outside enjoying nature in all its unspoilt beauty.

Yes, Norwood Lane is worse - but that is the work of criminals.

Park chiefs pleaded with visitors to ‘take it home’ with you. They’re right and they could have added – it’s your litter you deal with it.

And while I’m on my moral high horse can we make it a hanging offence for anybody who goes to the trouble of scooping up their dog’s poo, putting it in a little plastic bag and then hanging it on the nearest tree branch. Not cool, not cool at all. Sadly, littering is not a new problem. I remember when I first started at the Telegraph one of the first things we did was run a Grotspot campaign.

And nothing has changed for the better in the intervening 20 years or so.

I have no solutions, but worringlying, neither it seems does anyone else.

MP Paul Bristow has made it a mini-crusade (good for him) but highlighting the issue, although important, is not stoppingthe louts.

Peterborough City Council is left clearing up other people’s messes.

Its decision to end free bulkywaste household collections was, I believe, a false economy.

Employing a private firm to dish out fines if a toddler dropped a sweet wrapper was using a semi-automatic when a pea shooter was needed.

But the council is not to blame for the littering problem - the blame falls fairly and squarely (I know it’s stating the obvious) on those who drop and dump.

In last week’s paper it was revealed 21 fly-tipping prosecutions were under consideration by the city council.

Reading between the lines that suggests they know who 21 fly-tippers are but aren’t sure if they have enough evidence to secure a conviction.

Magistrates have the powers to fine convicted flytippers up to £50,000 and imprison them for up to a year.

The offence can also attract an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison if an offender is convicted in a crown court.

Until we see successful prosecutions, and punishments handed out closer to the top of this scale, this problem will not get cleared up.