‘Please don’t leave your litter in Northampton’s parks today to help keep our town tidy’

‘Please do not leave litter in Northampton’s parks’ is the plea from authorities and individuals today (March 31).

Following on from the distressing scenes this morning of Northampton’s parks covered in litter in the aftermath of a sunny and busy day yesterday (March 30), Chronicle & Echo is joining other figures across the borough in pleading with readers and the wider public to dispose of rubbish in bins or take it home with them.

Ahead of the publication of tomorrow's print edition, Chron editor David Summers, said: "We had planned to publish pictures on our front page of people out in our beautiful parks, enjoying the sun, Covid safe, as restrictions lifted.

"Sadly, it is the scene that greeted visitors to our parks the morning after that makes the headlines.

"It was nothing short of disgraceful. Litter strewn across the grass without a care for others.

"If we have learnt nothing else during the last year, it should be to respect our town and our environment and be more considerate to those who live and work here.

"We all want to enjoy the lifting of restrictions but scenes like this are appalling. Those responsible should be ashamed."

A number of other individuals have also spoken out about the rubbish and are pleading with the public in the hope it does not happen again.

Steve Miller from the Northamptonshire Green Party said: “It is such a shame that on the first day of lockdown easing that a minority of people have chosen to leave the park in such a state.

“But it’s heartening to see the community pull together with residents, neighbours, the Northants Litter Wombles and Friends of Abington Park come together to have the park cleaned by 9:30am.

"Abington Park is a wonderful green space enjoyed by families across Northampton.

“Let's all make an effort to keep it this way by all taking our litter home."

Ruth Hemmingway from Extinction Rebellion Northampton, who was in Abington Park clearing litter at 7am this morning, added: “The Government declared a climate emergency two years ago so there is no reason why this litter should exist.

“The companies should plan for the selfish individuals who leave litter. If the companies don’t create the litter there won’t be any to leave behind.

“But also if individuals can take it there they can take it home again.”

In previous statements, Northampton Borough Council and a volunteer litter picker have both pleaded with the public to not leave the parks in a mess again.

A council spokesman said: “We would urge everyone, whether they are using our parks or just walking or driving through Northampton’s streets, to use the litter bins provided and, if they’re full, to take their rubbish home and bin it there.”

Chris Calnan, a volunteer ‘Friends of Abington Park’ volunteer who helped to clear yesterday’s rubbish, also added: “Please respect the park and respect the visitors who love and enjoy using the park, as leaving the mess is really shameful.

“If you can bring in food and drink, you can take it out again when you have consumed it.”

The Chronicle & Echo would also like to urge readers and the wider public to not leave any rubbish in our town’s parks so we can all continue to enjoy the green spaces.

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