Border Telegraph | News | Water load of rubbish

Wednesday, 20th August, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 13th February, 2008 11:00

Water load of rubbish

By Susie Penman

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A familiar site on the banks of the River Gala.

WHERE can you find eight trolleys, two bicycles, and 90 kilograms of plastic?

Unfortunately, along the banks of the River Gala — or in its water.

Huge amounts of rubbish pile up every week and clean-up campaigns are regularly held to tidy up the popular walking area.

“This is one of the reasons we do have to have a regular clean-ups in areas where the Council don’t go,” said Community Council chairman Bill White, adding that that the next clean-up—scheduled for March 22—will include the Waterways.

Gala Waterways Chairman Ian Purvis, however, said that while the Council might participate in clean-ups, the duty to keep the Waterways clean falls to more people than just the councillors.

“The Council was not formed specifically to keep the Gala waterways clean. That’s a job for perhaps other people,” he said.

Councillor Purvis called for more police action to enforce stricter littering penalties.

“The police will have to take a more active approach,” he said.

Councillor Purvis blamed the state of river and its banks on the public.

“People are so quick to throw down their litter,” he said. “It’s the people who do it.”

“Something will need to be done,” he added. “We can’t have committee members giving up their Saturdays to clean up the Waterways.”

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