APPENDIX 11
Memorandum from Honley Civic Society
FLY-TIPPING
This is a serious problem in the countryside
and particularly in rural lay-byes and on railway land adjacent
to housing areas. Large household appliances, builders' debris
and used tyres seem to be the principal problems. Some of these
could be taken to free waste disposal sites. Sadly we see some
householders tipping their domestic refuse, and sometimes even
the wheely-bins themselves, on to railway land where nobody seems
to accept responsibility for clearance.
FLY-POSTING
This is a problem but is mainly limited to town-centre
and road junction areas. An increasing problem is being encountered
with large advertising boards designed to circumvent the planning
laws. These take the form of "temporary" fabric wall
hangings, scrap vans parked in fields with large posters on their
sides and large advertisements on vehicles parked for extended
periods at the roadside and in lay-byes.
LITTER
This has become very serious defacement of our
towns, villages, stations, trains and countryside. The main problem
seems to be caused by fast-food containers and drinks cans and
bottles, together with chewing gum. I would suggest that most
of the litter (but by no means all) is left by younger people
who have no regard for the environment or the law. This statement
is supported by the vast amount of litter around and in the grounds
of our local schools. Since the demise of school meals our youngsters
visit a local "take-away" and leave a trail of rubbish
all the way back to school. Efforts are made to keep the streets
clear but the tide is too great and wind-blown rubbish encroaches
on every corner, hedge and field. Perhaps all food containers
should be biodegradable and a tax should be levied on manufacturers
and retailers to pay for the clean-up operations.
GRAFFITI
This is not very widespread in our area but
it is common at bus stops and stations and can be both unpleasant
and very offensive. Efforts are made to clear it up but not quickly
enough.
NOISE
The main source of noise pollution is from vehicles
some of which are adapted to cause as much nuisance as possible
from both "tuned" exhaust systems and very loud amplifiers,
both of which should be illegal and stamped out. A very obvious
source of noise is the rapidly increasing use of fireworks throughout
the year.
Taking your questions:
1. The impact is very large and growing.
As I write this I note an ice-cream van outside our local school
which not only acts as a traffic hazard but also is surrounded
by a large number of discarded wrappers.
2. Yes there has been a cultural change.
There is much more pre-wrapped food eaten in the street and very
much a couldn't care lass attitude to the ensuing rubbish.
3. I suspect there may be powers to deal
with the problem but local councils, police and school teachers
probably lack time and resources (and perhaps most importantly
the will) to deal with the problem.
4. I cannot answer this but dialogue will
not cure the problem, action is needed!
5. Littering should be made an antisocial
activity in the same way as smoking and drink driving. For instance,
do the public realise the health effects of our food litter in
an increasing rat population? Is the effect of the rubbish on
our tourist industry adequately considered? There should be more
education (and even indoctrination) of youngsters at an early
age and it should be followed throughout school. Where is our
"Keep Britain Tidy" campaign? We need it more than ever.
6. I would think the less advantaged parts
of society suffer worse than most but they seem more content to
accept the problem. Perhaps they become inured to their squalid
surroundings.
I hope this hurried assessment is of value.
I feel that the present situation leads to enormous anger amongst
a large percentage of the population but they feel powerless to
do anything to improve matters. We look to your Committee for
some help!
February 2004
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