Discussion
Now I enjoy living in Bury St Edmunds having moved here three years ago from the countryside. The Town is clean, grassed public areas tidy with short grass, cemetery is tidy and we have the Cathedral and surrounding gardens which are great.
Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
It's very leafy where we live and as a result the street sign turns a bit green. Every couple of months when I'm washing the car I walk up the 100 yards or so with the bucket and give it a clean.
We also tidy the grass verge outside and the neighbours look after a little triangle outside theirs, we're not trying for a land grab or anything it's just we live in a nice area and want to keep it that way.
Sure we could wait on the council to send some lads round to tidy it but the few times a year they'll do it, isn't enough. I could moan about it I suppose, but when I'm sipping a single malt later tonight and looking at it from the balcony I think I'll be pleased I did it.
We also tidy the grass verge outside and the neighbours look after a little triangle outside theirs, we're not trying for a land grab or anything it's just we live in a nice area and want to keep it that way.
Sure we could wait on the council to send some lads round to tidy it but the few times a year they'll do it, isn't enough. I could moan about it I suppose, but when I'm sipping a single malt later tonight and looking at it from the balcony I think I'll be pleased I did it.
This is an interesting post to me.
Whenever I see pictures of the UK street scene one of the first thing that strikes me is how scruffy it all looks.
Not just litter but all the pavements that need a good jetwash, the verges that are overgrown, the street furniture that needs a lick of paint and so on.
I've heard so many times from politicos as to how they are going to get prisoners and those sentenced to community service to work on these eyesores, the "Leaders" often say how the inmates will wear clothing to shame and identify them, not a chain gang but i'm sure you get the point.
The unemployed could be used to do this too, to my mind it's meaningful and valuable work and you could give those that do it extra benefits, or if you were harsh, not pay those whop refuse.
But it never happens, it relies on the goodwill of those who have already paid in massively to help more.
It's wrong and it should change.
Whenever I see pictures of the UK street scene one of the first thing that strikes me is how scruffy it all looks.
Not just litter but all the pavements that need a good jetwash, the verges that are overgrown, the street furniture that needs a lick of paint and so on.
I've heard so many times from politicos as to how they are going to get prisoners and those sentenced to community service to work on these eyesores, the "Leaders" often say how the inmates will wear clothing to shame and identify them, not a chain gang but i'm sure you get the point.
The unemployed could be used to do this too, to my mind it's meaningful and valuable work and you could give those that do it extra benefits, or if you were harsh, not pay those whop refuse.
But it never happens, it relies on the goodwill of those who have already paid in massively to help more.
It's wrong and it should change.
Thankyou4calling said:
I've heard so many times from politicos as to how they are going to get prisoners and those sentenced to community service to work on these eyesores, the "Leaders" often say how the inmates will wear clothing to shame and identify them, not a chain gang but i'm sure you get the point.
The unemployed could be used to do this too, to my mind it's meaningful and valuable work and you could give those that do it extra benefits, or if you were harsh, not pay those whop refuse.
I've got to be honest, I'd rather do the job myself than have the great unwashed checking my pad out for things to steal/women to rape.The unemployed could be used to do this too, to my mind it's meaningful and valuable work and you could give those that do it extra benefits, or if you were harsh, not pay those whop refuse.
(I'm only half joking)
I can see both sides to this post. On the one hand locals mucking in to keep their little area nice and tidy seems a great idea; it boosts community spirit, lets people get to know one another and shows that people care about more than what's inside the borders of their home. On the other however such areas are supposed to be maintained by the council, but we all know budgets are tight and cuts are made to services before bonuses, so it is a damning sign of the times that we've reached this point.
I'm ever the cynic so when I read the OP I initially shared the sentiment, but having read about people "just doing things because", it made me think that I'm probably looking at this issue from the 'glass half empty' point of view.
I'm ever the cynic so when I read the OP I initially shared the sentiment, but having read about people "just doing things because", it made me think that I'm probably looking at this issue from the 'glass half empty' point of view.
A month ago I was in Sedona in Arizona to see an old mate.
He is American, an old Vietnam vet Captain in the marines , and was a highly paid sales excec for a large IT company.
Retired to Sedona in a very beautiful house and is financially well off.
Sedona is a very beautiful little very clean town.
What surprised me was that he volunteered to maintain about a mile of road and so gets out once a week to pick up rubbish (trash) from this road.
There is not a lot as people do not litter a lot but he still goes out once a week to pick up litter and fag ends.
I admire him because I would not do that, although I do pick up litter around our apartment block.
So well done all those volunteers.
He is American, an old Vietnam vet Captain in the marines , and was a highly paid sales excec for a large IT company.
Retired to Sedona in a very beautiful house and is financially well off.
Sedona is a very beautiful little very clean town.
What surprised me was that he volunteered to maintain about a mile of road and so gets out once a week to pick up rubbish (trash) from this road.
There is not a lot as people do not litter a lot but he still goes out once a week to pick up litter and fag ends.
I admire him because I would not do that, although I do pick up litter around our apartment block.
So well done all those volunteers.
Rosscow said:
When I'm cutting the grass on the sit on mower I go over the other side of the road and mow about 100 yards up and down from our house.
Keeps it looking nice! I also always pick rubbish up when I'm walking the dog, etc. or if there happens to be someone outside our house somewhere.
There's a difference between keeping your street looking good and being asked to volunteer for general town cleaning duties as Cranked Up has described. Keeps it looking nice! I also always pick rubbish up when I'm walking the dog, etc. or if there happens to be someone outside our house somewhere.
Perhaps this is one type of roll that the average retired person could do.
I clear the roads of snow, I get rid of the weeds in the gutter and pick up the litter on the road where I live. I make things look good on the basis that I would hope that others might also want to keep things looking good.
Perhaps an organised group could get together and say - we will clear up the park, you would feel a bit of a twit doing it yourself.
Going back 20 years the unions would have been furious at the council asking people to volunteer to do work that was the job of their members.
However, I understand the OPs point, remind me again as to why we are paying the Council Tax? Is it not to provide the funding for the obligations of the Council?
I clear the roads of snow, I get rid of the weeds in the gutter and pick up the litter on the road where I live. I make things look good on the basis that I would hope that others might also want to keep things looking good.
Perhaps an organised group could get together and say - we will clear up the park, you would feel a bit of a twit doing it yourself.
Going back 20 years the unions would have been furious at the council asking people to volunteer to do work that was the job of their members.
However, I understand the OPs point, remind me again as to why we are paying the Council Tax? Is it not to provide the funding for the obligations of the Council?
If you offered the volunteers the opportunity to wear a hi vis vest and use walkie talkies whilst simultaneously bossing the general public around and discussing the best offroad techniques you'd be fighting off the volunteers for the Litter Action Patrol Group.
Got a waste problem? Contact the LAPG.
Got a waste problem? Contact the LAPG.
crankedup said:
Now I enjoy living in Bury St Edmunds having moved here three years ago from the countryside. The Town is clean, grassed public areas tidy with short grass, cemetery is tidy and we have the Cathedral and surrounding gardens which are great.
Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Oh diddums. So you enjoy living in your clean tidy town but are reluctant to get involved with a bit of civic duty. Niice.Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
mcelliott said:
crankedup said:
Now I enjoy living in Bury St Edmunds having moved here three years ago from the countryside. The Town is clean, grassed public areas tidy with short grass, cemetery is tidy and we have the Cathedral and surrounding gardens which are great.
Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Oh diddums. So you enjoy living in your clean tidy town but are reluctant to get involved with a bit of civic duty. Niice.Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Would you volunteer to empty someones bins and take their rubbish to the tip? Provide the electric for the street lighting?
I pay a lot of council tax too. However, when I'm spraying the weeds in my block paving, I nip up and down the street and do all the weeds in the pavement too.
I could moan and call it the council's job, but in reality they're not going to do it. The old pavement was knackered due to weeds, and I like the new one looking good. If the lazy t
t in no. 11 can't be arsed to do his bit, I have the choice of either looking at it, or doing it for him. Easier to do the little extra.
I could moan and call it the council's job, but in reality they're not going to do it. The old pavement was knackered due to weeds, and I like the new one looking good. If the lazy t
t in no. 11 can't be arsed to do his bit, I have the choice of either looking at it, or doing it for him. Easier to do the little extra.MarshPhantom said:
mcelliott said:
crankedup said:
Now I enjoy living in Bury St Edmunds having moved here three years ago from the countryside. The Town is clean, grassed public areas tidy with short grass, cemetery is tidy and we have the Cathedral and surrounding gardens which are great.
Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Oh diddums. So you enjoy living in your clean tidy town but are reluctant to get involved with a bit of civic duty. Niice.Today we had a flyer through the letterbox, Bury in Bloom. This information basically asks that we volunteer to sweep road gutters, litter pick, clean out those dirty corners, and so on. One half of me can see the common sense and the request for goodwill. The other half thinks 'bloody cheek' I pay a fortune Council tax which should pay for people to be employed to do this work! I haven't noticed the Chief Executive or Council Members out litter picking.
Would you volunteer to empty someones bins and take their rubbish to the tip? Provide the electric for the street lighting?
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