Letter: ‘Any ideas how we can solve litter problem’
REFERRING to the Mildenhall Journal (January 27) ‘Bins are a perfect waste’, which refers, in turn, to a previous article, I write from Mildenhall where we have an ongoing problem of litter.
This is created by several factors, the lack of bins being but part of the problem.
Many of the footpaths within the town boundary have overgrowing vegetation, mainly ivy, and in many instances it is killing the trees and hedgerows. Contrary to some ideas that clearing these areas would be a threat to wildlife, it should be noted that Mildenhall has an abundance of habitat thus making overgrown public pathways an unnecessary evil.
Besides being untidy and obstructing the footpaths this vegetation encourages littering. Some affected footpaths are main pedestrian routes for shoppers and lead directly to the town centre with its fast food outlets and is subject to empty food cartons and drink cans.
An effort has been made by residents to get these areas cleared but there lies a problem. It is extremely difficult to find one person in the labyrinth of the various authorities who can stand up and get all the footpaths tidied, fences re-established and more rubbish bins positioned. The cry will always be ‘we haven’t got any money’ but so saying it might well be more economic to have tidy pathways and more bins that are regularly emptied than to have people litter picking even if the latter may still be needed.
A further difficulty is that these areas are the responsibility of three authorities, Forest Heath Council, Suffolk County Council and the Mildenhall Parish Council. There is demarcation between the three authorities which have work boundaries making a resolution unclear. It is unfortunate that there is no one department able to deal with this regardless of political or physical boundaries.
The story on page 10 last week’s Journal seems to indicate that the people posing in the photograph might be more usefully employed. Is this the old ‘too many chiefs and not enough Indians’ syndrome?
If anyone has any ideas on these subjects perhaps we can hear them.
Peter Sturgeon
Kingsway
Mildenhall
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