Litter mess is heartbreaking (From Falmouth Packet)

Litter mess is heartbreaking

1:20pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

Falmouth’s streets and green spaces are so strewn with litter and rubbish that “it’s actually heartbreaking,” according to one resident.

Mark Wilkins got in touch with the Packet to draw our attention to the litter blighting much of New Street and Gyllyng Street, as well as the patches of green – or “lawn" - in-between.

He said: “The whole area has been strewn with cans and bottles. If you walk around any of the areas between town and the ridge (Wodehouse Terrace) there’s just stuff all over.

“There’s that much litter lying around it’s actually heartbreaking. The council have mown the lawn but the rubbish is just ignored.

“Unfortunately, most of the walkways down to town are similarly afflicted. Heaven knows what visitors think, but I’m ashamed of it.”

Such poor upkeep of the town, following “the absolute debacle” of the council not clearing seaweed from the beaches, leaves Falmouth “in danger of becoming a filthy place,” Mr Wilkins said.

“Most of us in residential areas have lost our formerly excellent once a week road sweeping to a new when-the-road-sweepers feel like it policy,” he added.

Cornwall Council is responsible for cleaning streets and highways and removing litter from highways, roads and council owned land.

Streets in Cornwall should never fall below a “Grade B” of the Cleanliness National Indicator, according to council guidelines, meaning the streets should be “predominately free [of litter] with some minor instances.”