Litter is 'disgusting mess' (From Gazette Series)

Litter is 'disgusting mess'

LITTER left behind after ice creams and picnics have been eaten in the centre of Wotton-under-Edge has upset townspeople - but police and a school have taken action.

The exam season at Katharine Lady Berkeley's has involved pupils being out of school during the day when they are not sitting GCSEs or A levels.

A minority has had lunch in town and walked away from discarded packaging and left-overs.

After one incident outside their shop staff at Lloyds Chemist were faced with cleaning up a "disgusting mess" of containers, bottles and chips.

As the students were in uniform, the assistants phoned the school. A Lloyds spokesman said: "The school was very helpful and took details. They suggested we call the local police as no teacher was available to come up to town."

The police arrived after quarter of an hour by which time the pupils had disappeared.

However, they then visited the school and set up, with teachers, a series of sessions emphasising the importance of keeping the environment clean and tidy.

Headteacher Andrew Harris said: "It was unfortunate we couldn't attend this incident. Whenever problems involving our pupils are reported to us, we make a concerted effort to follow them up immediately."

Mr Harris said he had personally visited a bus stop on several successive early mornings in the past after a member of the public had reported trouble there.

On litter Mr Harris believes the problem within the school had improved during the last year.

But town resident Tom Barker said: "Some young people do not seem to care about the mess they create and when they are asked to clear up after themselves, they just walk away or make rude comments. The bench outside the Co-op is often surrounded by rubbish."

Co-op store manager Julian Jauncey said: "There is a possibility, with future developments, we may add another bin there. I do share the concern about litter and we keep the front of the shop as clean as possible but it's not all our responsibility."

Town Mayor Cllr Chris Galbraith said: "We need to educate and encourage our young people to care. Unfortunately, I suspect many have a lack of civic pride, feeling unattached to their town."