Before the Rescue Weekend we had to undergo the usual paperwork, the application, the risk assessment, identifying the litter hotspots, sending in the maps for the locations where the rubbish would be collected etc etc. Although it is fairly similar from year to year, it still takes quite a lot of preparation. We did not receive the Waste Categories or the Hazardous Waste Note from the RBC Rescue Team in time so used those that we had last year, although we did have a helpful note sent on 20th March in time to hand out at the Tilehurst Globe monthly meeting.
And we think it important to write a proper report following the Rescue weekend to make sure that our findings are drawn to the attention of the appropriate authorities so that permanent remedial action can be taken.
One of the major differences in our operation this year was that instead of one person trying to manage everything over the Rescue weekend, we asked for people to volunteer to be in charge of a session. We work four sessions from 10 to 12 am and 2 to 4 pm on both days. So four people volunteered to be Team Leaders for a session each and for all sessions except the last on Sunday afternoon additional volunteers offered to help out with the setting up and monitoring of the session.
We put together a kit which could be passed on from one Team Leader to another so that the business of setting up each session was made fairly easy. Each of the Team Leaders and helpers were given a pack of helpful information based on many years experience of running Rescue weekends. Part of one of the Globe Meetings was given over to explaining what was needed to run a successful session and open for any questions. Since most of the Team Leaders and helpers had participated in previous Rescue Weekends, most were familiar with what was required.
It must be said from the outset, that the new arrangements seemed to work very well. The kit was passed from on to another, and the helpers helped. The weather was awful as we all know, but the Team Leaders and helpers all turned out and set up their stands, and volunteers turned up to help clean up the mucky and downright disgusting sites round and about in Tilehurst.
This report should also be read in conjunction with the Summary report and it might be help for the authorities to note who the session Team Leaders and helpers were so that where further information is required it seems sensible to contact them directly.
We want the relevant authorities to read the report; each of the sessions and the areas cleared are described and this is followed by notes . The notes describe points which we would think require some sort of action – mostly by the relevant RBC authority.
Session 1 – Saturday 23rd March Morning
**** was the Team Leader for this session and the meeting place is the Triangle. **** was the helper and she took a band of people to clear the site round the Horticultural Shed in Gratwicke Road.
It was intended that the areas to be cleared were: the Triangle itself, the hedge at the back of the Triangle in Walnut Way which constantly gets a lot of rubbish, the part of School Road towards the Prince of Wales and Downing Road. Depending on the number of volunteers who attended on the day, we were prepared to go down Norcot Road as far as McIlroys by the Tylers Rest. Quite a lot of this was achieved.
1 **** has noticed that the path that runs down to the Potteries estate opposite the Old Water Tower is waterlogged and pretty unuseable. He has sent in photos to the RBC Rescue team. Some improvement to the path surface is required.
Highways need to take a look and get the surface of the path improved.and to pay attention to the flooding problem through the alley.
2 It was noticed that the car park at the back of Dominos pizza place and Corel betting shop in the Triangle is very litter strewn. Although this is private property there was big dumped rubbish (a mattress and large bin) making the whole area an eyesore. It would be nice to think that the landlord could be encouraged to keep the area tidy, and if not, for some action to be taken to enforce him to tidy the car park and the road into the car park. The large items were cleared during the Rescue Weekend but there is still significant rubbish in the car park..
Highways/streetcare need to take a look and find out who the landlord is and to contact them re clearing the car par to the rear of the premises, which should be recorded as becoming a health hazard. In addition or alternatively, the tenants should also be aware of their responsibilities regarding the accumulated rubbish.
3 The bank that runs down from McIlroys to the Norcot Road is constantly mucky. Much of it is of the crisp packet and drinks cans variety. Up to about a month ago this site was reasonably clean. However, by the Rescue weekend it was positively and noticeably awful. The solution we would like to adopt for this area if there is no other way and which is gaining favour is to find some worthy people who will form one of the Tilehurst Globe Litter Teams, a bunch of people who collect litter from the hotspots throughout the year. The Tilehurst Globe Litter Teams are proving to be very impressive. Many of the places that we cover are very notably cleaner, this includes parts of Blundells Copse, the area outside the Library, etc etc. As they say – the cleaner it looks the cleaner it stays.
Tilehurst Globe will investigate the possibility of setting up a Litter Team to clear the rubbish on a regular basis. However, there needs to be a much more concerted effort (perhaps in conjunction with the Tylers Rest) to reduce the litter in the first place. Perhaps a joint effort by Parks department and Streetcare should tackle the problem on a permanent basis.
Session 2 – Saturday 23rd March Afternoon
**** was the Team Leader for this session. He was helped by **** (who incidentally form a Litter Team that regularly collects litter from Blundells Copse). The meeting place was at the Teviot Road entrance and the intention was to tackle the rubbish that accumulates along the back of the houses in Teviot Road. 18 bags of general rubbish were cleared from the back of the houses. In fact most of the effort of the volunteers was centred on clearing this area although in other years the Bran Close end of the Copse and along Calder Close were also cleared. These areas were not cleared partly because there were fewer volunteers or because of the weather but because of the large amount of rubbish behind the houses. We had hoped that this problem has lessened following discussions with Matt Dady of RBC. However, it seems to be worse than ever.
4 Even after the session, there remains considerable heaps of unpleasant rubbish including 3 mattresses.
This is a serious ongoing problem. Heavy dumping continues to be done at the back of the houses in Teviot Road. RBC Parks and Streetcare teams and the Police need to be vigilant all the time. It needs another good heavy talkingto from the relevant authorities to ensure that both landlords and tenants are reminded of their responsibilities.
5 A tree has been cut down. The tree was in the Blundells nature reserve but someone has cut it down without permission.
Parks need to take a look and get some action regarding the loss of the tree. There is verbal evidence that the tree was cut down by someone from **** Teviot Road. Speak to the Team Leader for further information.
6 A very large container filled with dog poo has been dumped in the Copse at the back of the Teviot houses. Meri O’connell who lives at 44 Corwen Road would be happy to indicate where this container is to the appropriate authorities.
The Dog Warden, Parks and Streetcare need to take action to remove the offending rubbish and to consider action. Meri O’Connell (local councillor who lives at 44 Corwen Road) can identify the location of the container. In general it has been noticed that there is an increase in the amount of Dog Poo on the pavements and paths in Tilehurst. It may be cause of the cold weather but it is still very unpleasant. However, this particular site in Blundells is a disgrace.
7 **** has collected evidence that possibly might be used to secure a prosecution regarding some of the dumping – this would be a useful step to halt the increase of the rubbish that accumulates in this part of the Copse.
There are awful amounts of dumping at the back of **** Teviot Road. The Team Leader has collected evidence of some of the dumping and should be contacted by Parks/Streetcare /Police for the matter to be taken further.
In addition it would be helpful for the general public to know what action can be taken when they come across such dumping. If it is not in progress are the Police interested? In addition should the Parks/Streetcare team be automatically alerted to the problem?
8 It is still easy to see that there has been encroachment by people living in Teviot Road into the Copse. Photos of some of the worst cases of encroachment have been sent to the RBC Rescue Team. However this is a serious problem and it need a serious approach to prevent people taking land that belongs to us not them.
The matter of tenants/landlords encroaching on to Public land adjacent to their properties seems to be evident. Along the back of the houses in Teviot Road there is a lot of this type of activity. It needs to be stamped out as soon as it is reported. We should not tolerate blatant stealing of public land. To take land on a Nature Reserve is unforgivable.
9 The litter pickers borrowed from RBC seemed to be very fragile. 5 broke during this session. Perhaps the cold triggered breakages?
No particular action – but the note is added here for the RBC Rescue Team ‘s information.
Session 3 – Sunday 24th March Morning
**** was the session Team Leader on Sunday morning. **** was the helper and also many of the Friends of McIlroys group came and helped as well as other volunteers. The areas cleared were largely throughout the park and the top of Bates Hill.
10 Although during the session the top of Bates Hill was cleared, the bottom of the pathway at the Oxford Road end is very mucky. There is dumped carpet and a lot of general litter, including on the patch of waste land on the Oxford Road and on the right of the path. There is usually rubbish here.
The bottom end of Bates Hill, near the Oxford Road, needs to be cleared at some stage. RBC Highways and the Streetcare Teams need to look into it. It is a regularly used dumping area.
11 See also the notes regarding the part of McIlroys that runs down to Norcot Road under the notes in Session 1.
As for note 3 under session 1.
12 There is a very obvious and serious incident of encroachment into the park at the back of a house in Thirlmere Road. This has been reported previously and should be being looked at by the appropriate RBC authorities. The volunteers were all instructed not to touch or clear or interfere with the site. It is imperative that this sort of behaviour is snapped out.
See also note 2 under session 1 and note 8 under session 2. The RBC Parks department are aware of the encroachment and are thought to be taking the appropriate action. It has been reported by a local person that also there is another bit of encroachment by another person in Thirlmere and that this is hidden by the bramble hedge . It needs further investigation by RBC Parks to ascertain the truth of this.
13 The clear rubbish sacks kindly provided by the RBC Rescue Team apparently tear easily when clearing litter from hedges and brambles.
No particular action – but the note is added here for the RBC Rescue Team ‘s information. The recommendation is for people to work in pairs – one to clear the rubbish and one to hold the bag ie away from the hedge to the rubbish to be collected. A handy tip for next time and as a general note it is always good to work in pairs or in a small group anyway.
Session 4 – Sunday 24th March Afternoon
**** was the Team Leader for this session which was to clear Gypsy Lane and Kentwood Hill and if possible the bottom of Arthur Newbery Park by the bus layby. The session usually as few volunteers by comparison with the others and this proved to be the case this year. Even so, the lane itself and a large part of Kentwood Hill were cleared.
14 Four bundles of newspapers were found. This is really annoying litter. The piles of newpapers were left in the lane and the appropriate newpaper contacted to come and remove them – which they normally do. It is a pity that the ordinary man in the street doesn’t report this act of dumping. Newspaper companies are annoyed and lose money when the papers are not delivered.
Volunteers who work over the Rescue weekend or at any other time indeed should always report piles of undelivered newspapers. We need a method of advertising this, ie who to contact etc etc. It is the same for the dumped charity collection bags (but they usually have a phone number on them which makes it easy to report).
The Tilehurst Globe Team Leaders and Helpers did a fantastic job in very poor conditions. We were amazed and the number of volunteers who turned up to help. Thanks to everyone who participated in the event.
The street care dustcart lorries were fantastic and cleared the rubbish very efficiently and many thanks to them.
We despair at the fact that the rubbish still continues to accumulate from year to year. We are going to concentrate our efforts on reducing rubbish and dumping levels until we do not need to run the Rescue weekends. Even though it provides a certain level of altruism for the volunteers, it gives no-one any pleasure to clear the rubbish year after year.
We would like to work with the authorities, RBC Parks, Highways, Streetcare and Police to find methods of making zero rubbish a possibility.