Here is a view of the canal that runs past Abbey Park in Leicester...
...beautiful isn't it? ...and another one...
Now take a closer look at the patch of white in the centre of the photo above...
...then, just to be sure...
...plastic bottles, a car wheel, a sofa cushion, a football, a yoghurt pot, a few pieces of fence post, a million plastic bags, an extended family of rats (yes I did see them scurrying across the island paradise they live on!)... a complete and utter disgrace!
... then there is the bank that leads down to the water, perfect for family picnics, groups of hooded junkies, tramps day out, school kids smoking place and nearby bus stop litter bin...
...and if your local council doesn't have a recycling and refuse depot, feel free to fly-tip your unused and unwanted clutter over the fence...
...it makes a perfect playground for the rat babies... (sorry they are so quick, I couldn't catch a shot!)
Don't forget after your picnic lunch from Sainsbury's, to leave behind some bonus marketing for the local store. If you can't be bothered to walk to the bin or take your leftovers home, don't worry, leave it hanging in a conspicuous place for someone else to clean up!
We live in such a beautiful world, full of beautiful people...
Shame they don't have any consideration for the gift they have been given...
Sad that their parents have neglected to teach them about sharing and compassion for others...
Do you ever feel completely lost and powerless in this powerful world?
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Email to the Editor of 'Leicester Mercury' and to Leicester City Council...
I would like to bring to your attention some images I took on a walk along the canal in Leicester.
I know that litter, recycling and refuse are an important issue at the moment in Leicestershire.
I have only lived in Leicester for a few months and I'm very impressed with the rejuvenation work and love the beauty of Abbey Park.
It's just a shame that this beauty is lost on Leicesters untidy residents.
I realise you don't have time to pursue all emails and I am not asking for a reply.
I would simply like to let you know there are some residents who do care for the world and it's beauty.
I have written a few posts in my blog about the issue of rubbish, litter and recycling in Leicester.
If you have time please read them, the photos are in the first link...
http://indian-earth.blogspot.com/2008/09/river-runs-through-it.html
http://indian-earth.blogspot.com/2008/09/filthy-liars.html
http://indian-earth.blogspot.com/2008/09/todays-newspaper-in-india-landfill-of.html
Thank you and regards,
14 comments:
Oh my god, that's really horrific! Your council should do something, if not on health and safety grounds alone - I'm tempted to send a link to your post to them! Even if it's privately owned land they have an obligation to maintain environmental standards where the public have access.
That is absolutely terrible. The council should do something asap, can you report it? You just never know what lurks underneath i.e. needles, glass etc.
I think, sadly, empathy (which is a huge part of good mental health, compassion, love, selflessness) is going in a big percentage of the population
Jade and Frugal, I've updated my post with an email footer... to the editor of Leicester Mercury and to the Council. Not expecting a huge response!
Frugal, I don't think I'll be taking a dip or picnicking with the rodents! Maybe *they* are the compassionate ones putting up with our mess!
That's dreadful - I just kept thinking of all those things that could be recycled.
Some people are soooo lazy... it's makes me so angry..
That is awful! Those people should be ashamed of themselves! Hoping your e-mail helps to alert the council to the problem and to go do something about it. In our town local people have got together and cleaned up our waterways and now small boats can travel up into the town. They are even doing day trips in the summer. 20 years ago that would not have been possible (too many supermarket trolleys!)
Goodness! Can't believe it!
But, I believe that these things may probably not neccesarily be the result of people throwing away their bottles like that, but rather that no sanitation and no trash cans are available or nobody responsible for removing trash from there parks.
Absolutely shocking! And to think I complain about the litter in one of our unmanned parks yet it's nothing compared to what you saw. What on earth possesses people to want to live that way? I really don't understand it.
is it possible that its not being used as a 'dump' per se, but is the result of street waste being washed down stream and ending up together in this spot? i realise that the bag hanging on the tree looks intentional! Irrespective of how it got there, its pretty damming that a council is not concerned to promptly clean up such an eyesore and health hazard.
You're right Kel, it is where the rubbish has been washed down to this spot, where some kind of netting is catching it. But the age of the rubbish and the amount of it is what I cannot understand. If the council set up the net then why have they neglected to clear it as well? If it is private land then as Jade mentioned it should also be maintained in public areas.
Unfortunately a.p.o.w. it's not laziness but ignorance most of the time. And PG it's the councils who should be doing their jobs and providing sanitation and bins, then following their commitments by emptying them regularly. If they make such a song and dance about charging residents for recycling mistakes, then spend some of the money on a worthwhile cause...
It makes me sick that 'Eco and Green' have become yet another money spinner for the government!
Where is the source of it all? Surly it can't be just scattered rubbish blown by the wind... it's not that windy here! If people are fly tipping into the river, why? Education is key and reinforcing the why's and how's, so the kids can go home and teach the parents!
We need to slow down at school on learning the history of the world and the maths we never use and focus on the environment for a while because before long we won't be needing anything but survival skills!
Anyway rant rant, however it got there and whoever is responsible for it, it should be a lesson to everyone to keep pushing and teaching until our voice is heard... Change our priorities and move forward... Quickly!
UPDATE!
I've just had a telephone interview with a reporter from the "Leicester Mercury", she going to write an article about my reaction to the canal situation....
Hey, great work! I always think awareness is the first step to change, so fingers crossed this will mean the council or the landowner will pull their finger out!
You'll have to send us a link to the article when it's done.
J x
I was just thinking this is so beautiful when I came across the third picture.. how terrible!!
UPDATE from Leicester Council...
Thank you for your email received at Customer Services
I have forwarded your email to our Parks Department, they will visit the area and arrange for the area to be cleared.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us...
We went for a last walk to Abbey Park just before we left. I wasn't holding my breath but I was pleasantly surprised that the rubbish was GONE!
Thank you to everyone involved in the clearing up, I wish I could have helped in some way.
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