Something to build upon

A few weeks ago, I launched a petition aimed at Network Rail calling on them to clean up their land under the Steppingstone Railway Footbridge in Spalding. On Wednesday & Thursday of last week that petition delivered results. 

Network Rail spent two days on the site and have cleaned up both sides of the railway line and have cut back a lot of the vegetation. Whilst it is not a Garden of Eden, it does at least give an impression that we do care about our town. 

From Park Road 

On Wednesday, I spoke to the man from Network Rail in charge of the team and he informed me that he felt that a bin on the Kings Road side of the bridge might go some way to alleviating the issue. I tend to agree. There are two bins on the Park Road side of the bridge, yet nothing on the Kings Road side of the bridge. Indeed the nearest bin is at the bus station. Whilst you would like to think that people would take their litter with them, that is clearly not happening.

He also mentioned that Spalding along with Boston and a few other towns that have been most affected 

Park Road side

by immigration were amongst some of the worst areas for trackside litter in the region. It was disappointing to hear this. It is certainly the case that the area does see anti social behaviour in the form of street drinking and it is inevitable that someone under the influence of alcohol is more likely to be careless than someone who isn't, but does that excuse them? I conclude not. There are some who blame immigrants for this problem. I don't. I blame people who are litterbugs. Where they come from is irrelevant. 

Kings Road side

So where do we go from here? Well apart from the requirement for a bin, I think that some signs on the fencing encouraging people not to drop litter might help the situation, but I also think it is important to understand why a small sector of our community are driven to drink on the streets of Spalding. 

Kings Road side

One theory I have is that as many live in houses of multiple occupation, those who do want a drink after  work set out to be considerate to others living in their household who may be working different shifts, and end up being inconsiderate to everyone else.

If I am right, how do we encourage them to be considerate to all? Here are a few random thoughts.

Should Spalding have pub with different licensing hours? Or indeed just a centre where workers can go and spend time with others?

Sacks of waste removed.

Should there be more Outreach teams deployed in the town to speak to the individuals concerned ? 

Should the area be checked out on a regular basis bu law enforcement agencies in order to identify those responsible? 

Should a combination of the above be undertaken? Quiet possibly.

I don't have the answers to be able to suggest how this issue can be prevented from happening again, other than perhaps the visual impact that has been highlighted by this issue, may persuade some to accept that it is unfair to leave litter in this way. I hope so.

One final thought that is disturbing, is that the crew identified some areas that had been used for rough sleeping on both sides of the railway line - making the need for Outreach teams more important.

Having recently been elected Chair of the Spalding & District Civic Society, I am pleased that I have been able to contribute a little bit towards restoring pride in our community. I hope to be able to do more in future.

My petition to Network Rail: Clean up Steppingstone Railway Footbridge!

On most days I walk to work using a railway footbridge in Spalding called Steppingstone Railway Footbridge. It is a very popular bridge as it connects up the Wygate area of Spalding with the Town Centre and is used by pedestrians and cyclists of all ages. 

Over the years as Spalding has changed one of the challenges that our community is facing is that of litterbugs. People who thoughtlessly discard litter without thinking of the consequences. Eventually sooner or later someone has to pick it up.

I gave the bridge a thorough clean a couple of years ago and I was quite pleased with the end results even if it did cost me a broom!

Since then thanks to the sterling efforts of other volunteers, it is longer the mud bath for your feet that it once was.

However, no volunteer or paid council employee can do anything about the issue I am highlighting. Litter that has been discarded over the bridge and is now adorning land owned by Network Rail. It is now a complete eyesore. 

It is a statutory duty of Network Rail to clean up litter on their land. They acknowledge this on their website 

Under this very busy footbridge in Spalding they have failed to do so. This bridge connects the Spalding town centre with the Wygate area of Spalding and is used by families and individuals of all ages.

Unfortunately it has also at times seen antisocial behaviour in the form of street drinking which has resulted in a build up of cans and bottles over a number of years. Spalding has had a litter problem in recent years and volunteers are now making efforts to address this.

In 2012 Network Rail made efforts to clear the site  and sought to work with British Transport Police to tackle those responsible. Calls were also made for additional litter bins. Whilst efforts were made to improve the bridge there has been a failure to maintain the land on a regular basis.

Underneath the vegetation which by some miracle has continued to grow,the amount of litter is now huge.I took this photo in 2016 when Network Rail decided to cut back the vegetation which has now grown back. 

Is this acceptable to you?

I don't find it acceptable and have tried to do something about it seeing as our local Councillors have failed in their efforts and seemingly given up. They certainly are not making much public noises about it. 

•  In 2018 I reported the issue to Network Rail only to receive a response to the effect that that no manpower was available.
• Last month I launched a petition which has received a response from Network Rail advising that they will pass it down again to the local area team.

The fact that they acknowledge that it is something that they should do something about is to their credit, but I am concerned that I will be fobbed off again, which is why I am making this public call. Please sign my petition.

The more who sign  my petition the more that they will have to take notice.

My petition not only calls for action to deal with the immediate problem, but also calls on Network Rail, British Transport Police and South Holland District Council to commit to a long term plan to prevent the problem occurring again. 

My petition can be found on Change and I call on all who care about our town to sign it.

Finally a message to those who drop litter:- 

Put it in the bin!