WARRINGTON’S army of volunteers have been hailed for cleaning up the town after selfish acts of littering by a ‘thoughtless’ minority during the pandemic.

There has been an remarkable growth of community volunteer groups that have assembled amid the high levels of fly-tipping and littering in the borough.

The efforts have been recognised by senior politicians including Cllr Bob Barr (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall), leader of the town’s Liberal Democrats.

He said: “During lockdown our green spaces, footpaths and village centres have been used very heavily for a break from ‘house arrest’.

“Many of the visitors have come with dogs, snacks or picnics. A small minority of those think it is alright to leave litter, allow their dogs to foul, or take the trouble to pick up after their dogs, but can’t find the energy to take the bag containing the poo home or to place it in a bin, if they can find a bin that isn’t full.

“We should all be immensely grateful to the army of volunteers who devote their leisure time to cleaning up after the thoughtless, or anti-social, minority. They shouldn’t have to, and in particular they shouldn’t put themselves at risk to do so.”

Cllr Barr says these volunteers need as much support as Warrington Borough Council, and the parish and town councils, can give them to do their work.

“Bins may have to be emptied more often, equipment provided and, where necessary training given,” he said.

“They also need to know that those littering, fouling or fly-tipping will be pursued and prosecuted and that schools will do whatever necessary to persuade young people that leaving litter is unacceptable.”

Stockton Heath resident Bill Cooke was also keen to highlight the efforts of volunteers.

He said: “There’s a real momentum building, with people no longer willing simply to tut-tut and blame the council when they see litter, but actually do something about it.

“Around the town 14 litter networks have been set up with 950 members. People are reclaiming the streets. And the council is an active part in all this, because the bags the volunteers pick up are left at convenient points for the council to collect.

“You might have seen piles of tidy blue bags heaped around litter bins. Those are the bags full of litter collected by the volunteers around the town.”

Mr Cooke says one group of volunteers, named the Tuesday Group, has picked up more than 1,400 bags this year alone.

He added: “Each of those volunteers picks up litter on other days as well, either on their own or as part of socially distanced small groups connected with one of the litter networks. You may well have seen them around.

“This is the way to combat the litter emergency. Take action, join the litter network near you.

“Litter pickers are, by nature, can-do people. They’re good company and they get things done.

“Nothing will change if we walk past litter and assume it’s someone else’s job to pick up.

“The council is doing what it can, given the calls on its funds. So grab some gloves and join the rising tide.”