Dear Sir,
Having lived in Newton Aycliffe for 65 years, I have witnessed numerous changes, not all for the better. There will be many people, like me, who are old enough to remember Miss Hamilton, oh that she was still with us and doing her job! For clean and tidy houses and garden she would give a curt nod. Those who did not meet her standards risked her wrath and possible eviction. Yes, I say.
Our town has some very nice areas, others much less so, and getting worse. So this is where I return to my heading: ‘Time to Name and Shame?’ I think so. The following are areas I have observed whilst on walks about the town, some you would not expect and others, perhaps, more likely:
1. WOODHAM ACADEMY – the inside of their boundary fence, with the walk down to the burn, definitely needs attention. A good opportunity for students to be shown the results of littering in their environment.
2. GREENFIELD ACADEMY – not their boundary fence, but the path (used by the majority of their students) leading to the underpass, up the other side, and along between Horndale play area and the MUGA. Pop bottles/cans/sweet wrappers/crisp packets/discarded face masks all in abundance, much of it the detritus of pupils, despite there being litter bins within easy reach. This path passes the area where, not so long ago, it was reported that numerous sappling trees were uprooted having been planted not 24 hours earlier!
From here there is another filthy underpass leading to the ‘slum like’ area at the rear of Eskdale Place.
3. BYERLEY PARK SCHOOL – their perimeter fence, along the main road, harbours litter. However, they do have the disadvantage of double fencing, which traps the rubbish and makes it difficult to get at.
4. STEPHENSON WAY/ST FRANCIS SCHOOLS – Bearing in mind these are Primary schools and that the majority of pupils are met by adults at the end of the school day, why is there so much litter? Are these adults walking with their eyes closed, too busy talking, or glued to their mobiles, to see if their little ones are dropping sweet wrappers etc? These children are our future residents, NOW is the time to teach them good social awareness and practices.
5. PEASE WAY SURGERY/LLOYDS CHEMIST – the amount of litter in and around their fenced areas is an eyesore.
6. JET GARAGE AT COBBLERS HALL – The inside of their boundary fence is well decorated with litter, most emanating from their own premises.
7. ST MARY’S CHURCH – The boundary fence on Burn Lane. I would think a lot of this rubbish is ‘wind blown’ across Tesco car park, but it’s still unsightly.
8. THE ‘NEW’ ENTRANCE TO OUR TOWN CENTRE FROM STEPHENSON WAY – for which I believe the terms ‘exciting’ and ‘welcoming’ were originally used. Really??
Accessed – in the main – through an increasingly dangerous car park where the double yellow lines now mean nothing, and cars owners park irrespective of marked bays. This area is bounded on one side by the very necessary, but less than architectural, Leisure Centre fire escape, the grey metal fencing and – oh yes – the grey metal flowerbeds full of, not flowers as they were choked long ago by car exhaust fumes, but stagnant water and general rubbish!
Last, you will be pleased to read, but by no means least:
9. The POLICE/FIRE SERVICE ACCOMMODATION BLOCK – The rear fenced area of this building is a disgrace.
Who is responsible for keeping all these areas clean, most of which would be classed as ‘private property’?
Of course, I am well aware that in most instances the litter I speak of is not generated by those owning or working in these establishments but, if not legally, surely they are morally responsible to tidy their place up. It is the responsibility of everyone, where possible, to KEEP OUR TOWN TIDY.
I live in hope of more people taking on a little of this responsibility.
Concerned resident.
Name & address supplied