Well, ‘on strike’ is not quite correct, since we are volunteers and we do our volunteer litter-picking work for free.

Unlike the local authorities and their contractors who are paid to do this work through our local and national taxes.

Litter is and will be an increasing eyesore in the town centre. I along with other volunteers have called a halt to our free work, and it remains to be seen if East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) will do anything about it.

As I go around Petersfield, I see rubbish here and there squatting in corners and along kerbsides, skulking in shrubs and among weeds or brazenly blowing around in gusts of wind like wayward drunks, for days and weeks.

Volunteers have come to the conclusion that we have been suckers, fools, turning out several times each week, in some cases almost every day, doing for free what the local authority should have been and should be doing; their duty, their paid-for responsibility to keep our town clean and litter free.

Litter in Petersfield, East Hampshire
Litter can get into drains if left near them as can unswept leaves and other debris (Glenn McLernon)

With a sense of pride in our town, billed as the ‘Gateway to the South Downs’, we have, over the past year and even longer, been doing the job of the local authority, namely EHDC, to keep our town centre clean, litter free and pleasant for locals and tourists alike.

In addition, we have swept some of the neglected kerbsides and even weeded along some streets. We have weeded and rejuvenated some planters, giving vibrancy and colour to our town centre. We have washed the mud and gunge from quite a few litter bins.

Alas, our efforts have never been enough; in personnel, working hours or equipment. The local authority is supposed to supply those items and is supposed to make sure that the job is being done constantly so that we never have to see litter or rubbish anywhere for more than a few hours, if at all.

If you are seeing an increase of litter and rubbish on our streets, then the blame is with two parties; those delinquents who litter and the local authority who doesn’t take responsibility for clearing it up. Surely, we can do better than that.

Glenn McLernon