Villagers FURIOUS after ban stops them litter-picking over HEALTH AND SAFETY fears
FURIOUS residents of a tiny rural village have been banned from a ‘litter-pick’ by council health and safety bosses.
The villagers wanted to give the lanes and roads a spring clean to clear them of discarded rubbish.
Charles Porter, 72, contacted Canterbury City Council asking for hi-vis jackets and refuse sacks to clear rubbish from the streets in Wickhambreaux near Canterbury, Kent.
The ancient village pre-dates the Roman invasion and residents who live nearby include Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie and ‘Nasty’ Nick Bateman from Big Brother.
But heavy-handed council bosses told the grandfather-of-six that the litter pick would not be sanctioned because it is ‘too dangerous.’
The pensioner, who said he carried out three risk assessments for the project, has branded the decision “ridiculous”.
He said: “They have their rules, but sense should have prevailed.
“It is not like we would be picking rubbish on a super highway - these are three streets in Wickhambreaux we are talking about.
You try to be community-minded but you do not get the support you need
“You try to be community-minded but you do not get the support you need.
“It’s ridiculous and out of proportion with what we’re trying to do.”
Mr Porter wanted to clear waste in The Street, Spicer Place and Mill Close which all have 30mph speed limits.
But the city council said it would be dangerous for members of the public to litter pick on these streets as they do not have pavements.
The pensioner continued: “This is unnecessary red tape.
“We have quite a few visitors in the village and there is a litter problem.
“We do have some diligent people who unofficially pick it up, but I wanted to do a proper litter-pick.
“I never said we were going to do the main road because nobody likes walking up there, but we wanted to do it in little, quiet roads.”
Mr Porter received a reply from the council which said: “Unfortunately I am unable to authorise for your event to take place.
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“Your map shows that although you do not intend to litter pick in Seaton Road, which is 60mph, The Street, Spicer Place and Mill Close do not have pavements and as such are dangerous for members of the public to litter-pick on.
“We only would agree for litter-picks to take place on roads of 30mph or lower and roads that have pavements where residents do not have to dodge in and out of parked cars.”
Another villager, who asked not to be named, said: “Everyone is totally sick of the people telling us what to do - all we wanted to do was pick up a few bits of litter to spruce the village for the coming of spring.
“We are the ones who know the roads best - we walk them every day and we are the ones who know anywhere that might be dangerous.”
A Canterbury City Council spokesman said: “We help community groups and residents’ organisations with dozens of litter picks all year round, providing grabbers and bags and clearing the rubbish away afterwards.
"We’re very grateful to them for all they do to keep the district looking its very best.
“However our priority must always be keeping people safe. We are always very keen to support litter picks, but on this occasion we had genuine concerns.
"We’re sorry Mr Porter was disappointed with that decision but it was taken with the safety of him and his fellow litter pickers in mind.
“No doubt we would all agree it would be far better if people got rid of their rubbish responsibly in the first place, which would negate the need for any litter picks to take place at all.”