Council responds to huge littering issue seen across Northampton’s parks after a day of sunny weather

Following on from a day of warm weather and the relaxation of lockdown rules, Northampton’s parks were inundated with litter.

Yesterday (March 30), parks across the borough, including Becket's Park, The Racecourse, Abington Park and Upton Country Park were full of people enjoying the sunny weather and the re-implemented rule of six.

However, a huge amount of litter was left behind at the beauty spots and Northampton Borough Council park rangers, neighbourhood wardens, other council staff redirected from ‘less urgent duties’ and selfless volunteers were left to deal with the mess this morning (March 31).

The council has now responded to the resurfaced littering issue and wants to make clear the connection between ‘the cost of providing public services and this kind of behaviour, which lets down all of the considerate people who are not responsible for this mess’.

A Northampton Borough Council spokesman said: “We all know we have a responsibility to our communities, particularly our children, to do all we can to protect the environment and many people have taken that to heart during the pandemic, picking litter as they take their daily exercise or as part of community efforts.

“We’re so grateful to the fantastic volunteers who went above and beyond the call of duty to help us clean up the huge amount of litter left strewn across our parks after yesterday’s good weather and we’ve diverted staff from less urgent duties to respond to this.

“Many people complain to us about the cost of providing public services but don’t seem to make the connection between that and this kind of behaviour, which lets down all of the considerate people who are not responsible for this mess.

“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.”

This morning’s litter scene has been described as ‘shameful’, ‘disgusting’ and ‘annoying’ by volunteers who cleared up the mess.

The team of volunteers worked tirelessly last year as well to clear litter and is now expecting to have to resume daily litter picks if the good weather continues.

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