I am posting this thread in the hope that like minded people may respond positively with ideas. Last time I attempted to do this, I was met with cynicism and mild forms of abuse!

I live near to the Caledonian and find that over the last few years, litter has become a huge problem. As I have stated before, I pay over £1000 per year in Council Tax and expect the place to look tidy. I am sure that you all agree!!

I have contacted the council but they seem either understaffed or overworked - something like that!!

I do clean my own front as other neighbours do, but the place still looks a mess.

Has anyone actually stood on Bolton Road and looked along the pavements from the Caledonian, up towards Stubshaw? Litter strewn about - tarmac like patchwork quilting.

I feel ashamed when my family from Glasgow and Brighton come to visit. I also have friends in Ulverston. Ashton is getting worse!

Can anyone come up with any suggestions as to how we can get together and do something about these problems? Let’s put this forum, our ideas and hopefully our 'weight' as it were, to good use!

I appreciate that it isn’t the council’s fault that the litter is there in the first place, but surely if the place was tidier, people would think twice about littering in the first place and all would start to take a pride in our town!!

Johnny.

The residents adjacent to Ashton Heath formed a community association (see www.ashtonheath.org.uk) and are tackling a range of environmental problems including litter. I have to say though (as someone involved) that the number of volunteers tends to be limited. However, if there are some volunteers, then generally the council will do their best to help. You could contact Nick Burdekin on 705244 for some ideas. For example, you might be able to get a litter bin, or have a blitz on litter from the Beat-It team.

Several areas in Ashton now have representation on the Ashton & Bryn Township Forum, which has just won £10,000 worth of improvements to the town. Your area isn't represented as there is no residents' group there yet, but it's something your neighbours might want to consider. For further information including the email address of the Township Manager Malcolm Coe you can go to www.wiganmbc.gov.uk and search for Township Forums.


- David -

Just a few words of support. David said it all really in his reply but I feel strongly enough to add a few words as I'm a real grouch when it comes to people dropping litter !

It was the litter around Ashton Heath that provided the first spark for the Ashton Heath Residents' Association in it's earliest form. I complained like you to Wigan MBC who put me in touch with David. We found a third person who shared our concerns and we sowed the seeds of an idea of a litter pick over a pint :-). The idea flowered into a residents' association due to the enthusiasm of people spreading the word and getting local residents to one meeting (in the pub again !). Everything took off from there.

It would be naive to think that all sections of residents would react with the same enthusiasm. We had a head start in that the heath was a recreational point of focus for all. It's an uphill struggle getting people on a residential road to come out and pick litter (though they should if they care enough). Very few people pick litter on Ashton Heath but their keeness wins the day and you should always see the heath looking reasonable.

My sympathies as regards Bolton Road, etc. I've seen it on Sunday mornings and it makes you cringe. There's no easy answer but what's certain is that you need 2 or 3 very keen people to run with any idea that involves local community action. On your own you will have little impact (that's how I started !) and it's a shame more people don't have the same concerns as you. Shame on them !

By the way, the people that reacted with cynicism and abuse are idiots - ignore them !

Until you go by Macdonalds, near Asda in Wigan, on a night and see what the hatchback brigade have thrown out of their windows you have not SEEN litter ! So much for the councils environmental policy. I know of a man ( a farmer who pays tens of thousands a year to Wigan council ) who was fined £100 with £150 costs for dropping a cigarette end out of his car window whilst waiting for his wife in Wigan town centre.

Town: john.bate@onetel.net

I occasionally drink in Wigan - I know what it's like. Thats the town centre and it is to be expected somewhat. Remember, the council clear that up the morning after! Its Wigan - they will wont they!!

Walk out of Winegro on Bolton Road and walk towards the town centre opposite the Caledonian. Then tell me I aint seen litter!

Its been there for bloody months!

No matter how hard you try, the council just dont clear it!

Unlike Bolton Road, Princess Road (off Bolton Road) is plastered with litter come Sunday morning but it's usually a lot cleaner by early in the week. Suspect the council are doing their bit down there. What's significant is that Princess Road got press coverage some time ago when the Saturday nighters were using it as a toilet and dropping chip papers etc down there every week.

Suggest you ring the Wigan Evening Post on 01942 506278 and highlight the Bolton Road litter problem - I know they are looking for stories right now. If you got some press coverage, the council may react with a proper weekly clean-up.

All major routes into Ashton should be clear of litter. If you went to someone's house where their drive was full of crap (and you won't have to look very far in Ashton !), you wouldn't be too keen on visiting the house. Why should the town be any different ?

When Ashton had it's own 'Urban District' Council you wouldn't have your place full of rubbish like it is. The Urban District Council was for Ashton and dealt with Ashton issues. Now that Wigan Council has taken over the running of Ashton you can expect this slipshod organisation because they don't care about any of the areas surrounding Wigan. They make sure Wigan gets looked after first and foremost and to be honest, they don't do a very good job of that either.

Good heavens - Ashton UDC went over 30 years ago. Talk about living in the past. Perhaps you'd like the council tax to escalate while Wigan employed armies of cleaners (perhaps one walking behind each litter lout). The current approach which seems to work in some areas of Ashton is for local residents to take an interest in the cleanliness of their neighbourhood, in partnership with the council via the Beat-It teams and Wigan Street Scene. Better enforcement of litter laws would help though - a few prominent fines would alter attitudes quicker than months of educational programmes.

I blame it on their parents.

I echo your comments particularly in relation to residents getting involved. It's the only realistic way this is ever going to get resolved as council budgets will never stretch to every road in every town (though they do have a responsibility to look after certain areas) - people don't seem to understand this and stick their heads in the sand.

There does seem to be an inherent problem with a lack of pride (it's not just confined to our borough either) amongst a lot of residents. Once people start to feel strongly enough and band together then everywhere will be constantly kept clean (come and see Ashton Heath where we put this into practice - though the Heath Road end needs one or two residents to get things up to scratch there).

Steve, this is why history is studied. To compare the outcomes of method to time. Things would be much better if more people looked at the past and improved on things to make the present, and the future better for us all. Things do seem to be going backwards. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with Horace. Was he a member of the Ashton U.D.C. perchance ?

i work in heath rd and when i have my dinner and can of pop i screw it all up and discreetly pop it out of my van door into the gutter. well if you cant beat um join um .

You see - this is the attitude you get.

However, thank you to everyone who has added comments to this thread over the last day or so. It was a shock to see them all!!

Maybe the last comment is a twisted way of having a joke, but it makes my blood boil.

Sod it. If people want to live in a f@cking sh1t hole then that is fine. I have other things nearer to my heart to think about.

As long as my front is clean and tidy - fine.

I wouldnt mind, I dont even live on bloody Bolton Road!

Maybe the fact he's called Wally suggests it's either a wind-up or he is a wally (I can think of a much worse name for him). Fact is though that whether he's telling porkies or not, people ARE doing this and dragging the area down. These numbskulls are criminals.

Here Here!

It's a shame when I'm contemplating directing my in-laws through Lowton and down Golborne Road when they come from Brighton for Christmas.

We shouldn't have to be embarrassed about our town.

Johnny.