Resident takes bag full of rubbish to council meeting to highlight litter problems
Caroline Nichols said she will analyse what is in the bag
Rebecca CurleyLocal Democracy Reporter
Stock image: Concerns have been raised about the amount of litter on the streets (Image: Grahame Larter)
A resident concerned about the amount of rubbish littering the streets took a sackful of it to a council meeting.
Caroline Nichols held the green bin bag up for councillors to see as she spoke passionately about her concerns over rubbish.
She told members of Spelthorne Borough Council and Surrey County Council's Joint Committee that she will do a full audit of everything she had collected and let them know what was in the bag.
The rubbish was collected during a 15 minute walk last Monday (July 8) and earlier that day around the Lower Sunbury area.
Mrs Nichols said it was too much to expect the council street cleaning staff to try to keep on top of picking up the litter and that residents needed to take more responsibility.
'I really did have a good scour'
Speaking at the meeting on Monday, July 15, she said: "I'm absolutely passionate about the fact that 90,000 residents in the borough need to take responsibility for the rubbish floating about."
She then held up the bag of rubbish saying she will analyse what is in there.
She added: "I was picking up stuff that I know has been there for a long time. I really did have a good scour."
"I've started talking to residents along the way who do feel passionately. But everyone needs to do their bit. It's a cultural thing."
She said she was trying to "nudge" the council into being more active in its communication to residents over picking up litter and suggested neighbourhood watches for litter.
Officers said Spelthorne has "considerable engagement with its communities and resident groups in regards to supporting litter picks".
And at Spelthorne cabinet last month, members voted to adopt the council's single-use plastics policy and five year action plan for the whole of Surrey.
Spelthorne Borough Council leader Ian Harvey said it was about trying to change people's mindset.
He said :"Our street scene staff are doing a fantastic job, but they cannot be everywhere all the time."