Street cleaners must get their fingers out (From Warrington Guardian)

Street cleaners must get their fingers out

A FRUSTRATED Winsford resident is calling on Vale Royal Borough Council to sort out the problem of litter on his estate.

David Pickford, 74, of Bedford Rise, has now taken to the streets himself in an attempt to clean up the Glebe es-tate.

Mr Pickford, who has suffered a series of strokes, said: "I go out and pick up litter that other people drop because the council aren't doing it but I can only do so much.

"I saw a woman, waiting at the bus stop opposite our house, just throw an empty packet of cigarettes to the ground so I walked over and put it in the bin.

"It is the people who drop litter who are to blame first of all and I hope they start to think about what they are doing.

"But the council doesn't empty the bins regularly and the road hasn't been swept in about seven years.

"We are up to our necks in rubbish."

Mr Pickford believes the council has a responsibility to keep the area in which he lives tidy.

He said: "We pay council tax and I would like to know where it all goes.

"It just seems to disappear into a black hole because it certainly isn't being spent on cleaning up our estate.

"I'm not the kind of person that likes to complain about things for the sake of it but there are a lot of people who feel the same way as myself.

"The council told me they are doing their best but it seems their best is just not good enough.

"I have been trying to sort this issue out quietly for a long time but it is just getting worse and I am so frustrated that I feel the need to speak out about it."

David Hull, regional manager for Muir Housing group, said: "The association recognises the problem of litter on the estate and has ensured the provision of litter bins and daily litter picking across the estate

"In addition we will deal promptly with fly tipping, removing rubbish and identifying those responsible. Importantly the association, working closely with local voluntary groups, supports and promotes education for younger people in order to discourage littering and encourages a sense of community responsibility for the appearance of the estate amongst residents."

phennessey@guardiangrp.co.uk