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Are litter bin complaints consigned to the dustbin?
• IT is now exactly a year since I last wrote my local Tory councillor and the local council housing office regarding the issue of lack of litter bins around the southern part of Lismore Circus.
Yes, I admit, at first it might not seem a very “immediate” issue, but after a year without any change or any explanation, then you must ask the question “why?”.
It’s a joy every time I see the two women volunteers, once a week, weather permitting, dedicating their time to maintaining the wildlife garden, taking on the trees and fast growing thorny bushes, planting new plants and flowers.
However, I feel ashamed and disappointed when I see the many bags of litter collected from the undergrowth by those brave women.
The garden is a joy to the local community for romance, local workers eating their fast food, people enjoying a beer, teenagers “hanging out” together, and do not forget the dogs.
One thing they all have in common is littering. Without a litter bin nearby, the litter is thrown into the bushes.
In addition, a few months ago one of the council’s own trucks made a u-turn onto the lawn in front of the gardens, completely destroying the dedication plaque.
I am disappointed at our local councillors for not following up and acting on this simple problem, and I am disappointed at the council for not taking this issue more seriously, despite years of calls, including those from its own staff.
There is a lack of litter bins along the newly-built “cycle route” from Lismore Circus all the way down to the community centre. Gospel Oak housing office must be one of the city’s only official buildings without a litter bin outside, in a place where people gather. It would be appropriate for the local councillors to recognise and appreciate the hard work Mary Barnes of Oak Village has done, being one of the founders of the garden, and all the work she has dedicated to this project.
Over several years she has helped changing a waste-site into a blooming wildlife garden, originally opened by our fellow neighbour Michael Palin, and available for all the community to enjoy.
After all, we have seen the housing office put money into one single tenant’s private garden project at Wendling estate, a place tenants can visit by invitation only, even though it’s part of the estate’s public places.
We have seen Lismore Circus change for the third time in less than a decade.
But, we still see no rubbish bins in the wildlife garden, outside the housing office or anywhere on the way down to the community centre.
Come on, guys, let’s show some action here for the local community.
After all, a cleaner environment can only be a positive thing for our entire community.
Lawrence C Wahlund
Bacton Tower, Gospel Oak
Make them pay
• I AGREE with Lester May’s sentiments (Time to make the culprits pay for filth on our streets, May 21).
On May 16 at 6.30am Chalk Farm Road was covered in paper, leaflets, plastic bottles, cans and other rubbish, blowing all the way up to Adelaide Road.
Do those responsible not have the sense or the resources to stop this before it happens or perhaps think about clearing it up?
Mr May is also right about “the public” attitude to litter and rubbish on and off the street.
Travelling by bus and train only makes me think a lot of people are happy to live in the proverbial pigsty and what tourists must think as they see the graffiti along Network Rail’s trackside as they approach the heart of London, I can’t imagine.
Allan Devaney
Ferdinand Street, NW1
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