Rubbish problem in Thurso

[kerry9316]

Hi All

I dont normally post in forums such as this so please be gentle on me :D

I moved to Thurso a few months ago and so far I am loving many aspects of the move, I have lived all over the country in my life due to my parents, mine and now my husbands employment and I have to say i've never seen an area with so much rubbish everywhere!

I've just been up to the new park at Pennyland and already its absolutely covered in rubbish. The most frustrating thing is there are four bins near to the park, two of which are in the fenced area of the park. Ive noticed walking in many areas in town there is a huge problem with broken glass this is awful when you are trying to walk a dog and a small child for fear they will fall on a piece of glass. Even when living in London for many years I never saw rubbish to this extent.

Does anyone else feel this is an issue or am I oversensitive to it? Is there anything to be done about it? Are the children being taught about care of their enviroment and so forth (i'm hoping this rubbish is a result of children and not adults!)

I've not come on here just to moan about it if there is something to be done or some kind of committe that covers such areas then i'd love to be involved and make a difference but it just amazes me the blatent disregard for taking care of what you have and being responsible for your rubbish. (its the classic of would you throw it on the floor at home - no- then dont outside?)

I'd love your thoughts, thanks!

[Lavenderblue2]

I have to agree with you Kerry. The new park is a total mess, after the weekend of the official opening there were plastic bottles etc all around the play area and blowing down the road towards Castlegreen Road. The litter is just spoiling what is a magnificent change to the old park, brought about by two small children. I feel sorry for the folk in the houses round about.

[poppett]

This morning I watched our new neighbours stand in their neighbour`s garden with a can of beer each, and threw the can onto the grass when it was empty.

The children get the blame for lots of rubbish blowing about as they just drop rubbish at their feet, but who can blame them when they see grown ups acting like this?

[Bazeye]

Wheres the new park? The one next to Frazers or Nisa or whatever its called?

[lindsaymcc]

It is a problem - for sure.

We are the through-way for the high-school so during term time, our front garden is littered DAILY with crisp packets, coke cans, and sweetie wrappers.

My daughter had a sweetie while out the other day and dropped the rubbish, she got a bollocking and was told to pick it up and escorted to the bin.... it is not acceptable behaviour.

[skytalker]

The play park is a novelty at the moment, new and with new things to play with. It is therefore, being used by children who are not from this side of the town, once the novelty wears off and the schools are back, that is when we will really see just how much they are used and how much rubbish is generated.

But I have to say, this should have been taken into consideration for after the park was built especially since there already has been a few new park in the town in the last few years, one at the boating pond, Ormlie and Spring Park. The council should have known that there would be a demand for more rubbish bins and compensated for it. They should realise that those little things they have provided may look pretty but really aint practical especially since they don't have a lid.

[Eilanboy]

The play park is a novelty at the moment, new and with new things to play with. It is therefore, being used by children who are not from this side of the town, once the novelty wears off and the schools are back, that is when we will really see just how much they are used and how much rubbish is generated.

But I have to say, this should have been taken into consideration for after the park was built especially since there already has been a few new park in the town in the last few years, one at the boating pond, Ormlie and Spring Park. The council should have known that there would be a demand for more rubbish bins and compensated for it. They should realise that those little things they have provided may look pretty but really aint practical especially since they don't have a lid.

Don,t think the problem lies with the Council but with the little darlings who have no respect for the tidyness of the area and who are not taught to put litter in the bins.You could have a number of large bins but that wdoesn,t necessary mean they will be used.
Didn,t realise the new play area was for only for children living in the Pennyland area

[The Sherrif]

Eilan boy is right...simply the parents are at fault as the children have not been supervised or educated on the morals of public behaviour.
The Council can only do so much I am sure and with hundreds of miles of roads around Caithness its impossible to keep everywhere clear. The solution is for the litter not to be dropped in the first place and each item dropped at the decision of the owner, they are guilty of neglect to the area, to the environment, the the council, to the wildlife and livestock and birds that will die becuase of the careless few.
The schools, the parents can educate their children from an early age and with support from parents leading by example this problem can be solved.
I dont suppose those that drop most litter will be here to read this though. :( Society can take the lead and tell them its anti social.. we can all make a difference.:)

"Shooting form the hip"

[Bazeye]

I dont suppose those that drop most litter will be here to read this though. :(

Why's that? Are you insinuating that people that drop litter, cant read?

[The Sherrif]

Why's that? Are you insinuating that people that drop litter, cant read?

Most certainly not, those that read and take part in this thread are obviously concerned about litter etc and therefore unlikely to be part of the problem.:)

[sandyr1]

Why's that? Are you insinuating that people that drop litter, cant read?

Now now Mr B...............
I agree with the comments above......Put garbage/litter in the bins. Should be taught at home/school with fines for throwing items on the roadway or park.
Then if children are taught young enough, they can flex their Peer Pressure.
A short story....Many years ago in Ontario they brought in a seat belt law. I was a bit lax in using same, but then the Schools made their students 'Seat Belt Deputies'. So one day I went out with my 11 year old daughter, and she insisted I put my belt on. OKOKOK... I did. Two Streets later a car came around the corner and hit us....We had no injuries as we were wearing the Belts..Smartened me and a few people up!
I recently saw the streets of the North, and like the shop hours on a previous thread not much has changed in 50 years......
Like many things, there should be as one person put it....A Moral obligation to adhere to the law and keep our streets and parks clean.
Just another part of life.
Again on another thread....the State of the Oceans/ Rivers......It doesn't take much to find somewhere to put your junk!

[panda]

have to agree o think children are not been taught to put it in the bin.the other greivance i have is the state of peoples gardens.when they rent the property i beleive one condition is that they keep tidy gardens.the landlords must have the right to impose this rule.

[Torvaig]

Sorry folks but there will always be socially minded people and socially destructive people.

Yes the kids make a mess but look at the example being shown by the adults! And if they didn't have the money to buy their goodies or weren't given them outside their homes maybe there may be a hope. After all, what is wrong with eating plenty at home? No-one needs food when they are out of doors if they are being adequately fed at home or at work. Years ago you hardly ever saw anyone eating outside except at a picnic which was a novelty and a great treat. We thought it terrible if we found an empty half bottle after whisky thrown in a hedge and usually picked it up and took it home to the bin.

Bottles, cans, cigarette ends and packets, fast food containers and wrappers; there is no end to it. Until there are litter wardens (meaning higher taxes) fines on the spot and large printed lists of offenders names put up in a prominent place in public, there is no hope of it ever improving.

I have always maintained that the better off we are, the less we care. "A throwaway society" is a very well known phrase these days....

There are those who care and those who don't give a damn!

Maybe banning eating and drinking out of doors.......:roll:

[sandyr1]

Sorry folks but there will always be socially minded people and socially destructive people.

Yes the kids make a mess but look at the example being shown by the adults! And if they didn't have the money to buy their goodies or weren't given them outside their homes maybe there may be a hope. After all, what is wrong with eating plenty at home? No-one needs food when they are out of doors if they are being adequately fed at home or at work. Years ago you hardly ever saw anyone eating outside except at a picnic which was a novelty and a great treat. We thought it terrible if we found an empty half bottle after whisky thrown in a hedge and usually picked it up and took it home to the bin.

Bottles, cans, cigarette ends and packets, fast food containers and wrappers; there is no end to it. Until there are litter wardens (meaning higher taxes) fines on the spot and large printed lists of offenders names put up in a prominent place in public, there is no hope of it ever improving.

I have always maintained that the better off we are, the less we care. "A throwaway society" is a very well known phrase these days....

There are those who care and those who don't give a damn!

Maybe banning eating and drinking out of doors.......:roll:

Other places have solved the problem without such drastic Action.......It all starts at home and secondly the schools should do their part.
Pls read post #11....How 'bout 'Rubbish Deputies.....
Our kids got badges for the seatbelts and now we have nearly 100% compliance.

[oldmarine]

This morning I watched our new neighbours stand in their neighbour`s garden with a can of beer each, and threw the can onto the grass when it was empty.

The children get the blame for lots of rubbish blowing about as they just drop rubbish at their feet, but who can blame them when they see grown ups acting like this?

I agree. The adults should be setting good examples for the children.

[rogermellie]

its simple

get a bin big enough to hold all the rubbish, not the stupid dinky wee open topped thimble that someone thought would look good

every day i see kids trying to balance their sweetie wrapper on the pyramid of rubbish sitting proud of the bin's rim.

as soon as the first gust of wind comes along, all that rubbish goes everywhere

litter attracts litter, but most of the playparks kids are well minded and try to use the bin, the local schools make a point of it, but if the place looks like a dump then it will be treated like one.

this great playpark is fast becoming an eyesore, even one of the 'co-founders' of the park was dropping her juice bottle and balloon crap on the ground !!