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Bill
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Posts: 1308
(29/3/06 9:36 pm)
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Councill relies on volenteers
Read an article in the news today about a Warrington group being set up to combat the litter problem. Usual high profile even, this time headed by a councillor with media coverage that makes for a good heart warming story. Now it takes a real saddo to knock somebody that takes the initiative to do something positive about making our environment better for everyone so what the hell am I posting this for?

Well think about it. Getting volunteers to pick up litter is nothing new; we’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember with events run by local residents groups, Boy Scout etc. It doesn’t actually solve the problem it just ensures that it will continue or even get worse. I say it can be likened to a mother that constantly picks things up behind an untidy child without ever attempting to change that child’s bad habit. But I’m sure I’ve said all this stuff before but two things now start to give me concern.

Firstly event is being organised by a councillor who intends to get money from a magic pot to equip volunteers with fluorescent jackets, pickup tools etc. But isn’t this part what our councillors should do anyway? We pay our taxes to have our rubbish removed and our streets kept clean. If it’s not being done well enough, then the council should address the issue. Perhaps I wouldn’t feel the same had it been some group like the Women’s Institute that was organising it, but a councillor? I’m not so sure.

Secondly, the increasing use of volunteers to carry out tasks normally undertaken by “the authorities” seems to be an ever growing trend and I just wonder where it will all end. I can understand the need for certain professions to have voluntary reserves that can be called on in times of special need. I can also see there’s a social benefit to events like this not to mention cost savings. But having picked up litter for twenty odd years from a local field, the social feel good factor soon wears off and the realisation sets in that you either have to put up with the rubbish or become an unpaid worker doing a job that the council should sort out.

Bill :)

John
Regular Poster
Posts: 145
(30/3/06 12:36 pm)
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Re: Councill relies on volenteers
It's difficult to think of a solution to the litter problem Bill. Education seems to have no effect on those that drop it and they know that the chances of getting caught and punished are virtually zero and even if they were it's not economic to take anyone to court over it anyway. Even if they award them costs they probably won't or can't pay. I don't think we should rely on volunteers either. Perhaps there should be more enforced community service orders enforced for dropping litter and other offences instead of fines which don't get paid. How about a least a week, including Monday to Friday so they also lose their normal earnings, cleaning the streets, removing chewing gum and graffiti etc.

I bet that even though they are using volunteers instead of council workers it won't make any difference to the council tax we have to pay.

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