I would love to see these schemes all over the country. I felt that the Darlington litter patrol staff looked far more professional than the Leicester staff, and would get more respect on the street. How can more schemes be encouraged?
Kevin Matthews, Epsom, England

I am a care home owner, and think that the current campaign to close homes is more about reducing the amount of beds than making homes safer to live in Nick Bradbury, South West UK

Litter wardens - excellent idea! Peterborough and Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire both have a similar problem. Residents drop litter near benches or food outlets. More Litter Wardens would really do the trick! Simon
Simon M Lewis, UK

I get really frustrated living here in England. Australia has enforced fines for littering for years, eg $200 for a butt out of the window of a car. Singapore has had it for many years. Why is England so backward?
Simon M Lewis, UK

I am a care home owner, and think that the current campaign to close homes is more about reducing the amount of beds than making homes safer to live in. The goverment seems bent on putting their "standards" above personal choice and values of individual homes.
Nick Bradbury, South West UK

California offers community service picking up trash along the roadsides and parksin lieu of paying a fine John Moreno, UK

In context of the programme about litter could I suggest that you set up an experiment in conjunction with a compliant local authority. Set aside a specific area and do not collect litter for a period of say two weeks. Use this as an illustration to drive a message home.
Barry Roberts, Scotland

I have just seen your programe for the first time and think the litter story is brilliant. I come from Zimbabwe and have lived in the UK for two years. I have noticed since living here that there is really a litter problem in England. It annoys me that people who smoke throw their cigerette butts on the floor. As far as I am concerned I think anyone who throws litter or defaces any public property should be fined, and if they assault an officer issuing the fine they should get a minimum of 164 hours of community service cleaning up our streets.
Shayne Botha, United Kingdom

Whilst the idea of street fines are a great idea to stop littering, have the councils never thought of providing more bins, or even using the funding from these fines fund more bins and better waste disposal? The problem is the lack of bins, not the people. Can we give our

I agree that litter is a problem, but what about the fire risk of cigarette butts in litter bins? Gavin Beatson, UK

council a �50 fine if we do not feel there is a bin near by a crowded area where there should be bins?
James Humphreys, England

I will always put litter in a bin, even if I have to walk for a while with it and I agree that a �50 spot fine will deter people. However, I am a smoker and even if I think I have put out a cigarette, I will not put it in a bin because of the risk of fire. There are not enough bins with ashtrays on top of them. I therefore disagree with spot fines for dropping cigarette ends.
Daniel, UK

I am so pleased to see litter has become a 'real story' topic. I have recently started work in Paddington and it is not just the litter that is filthy. Most phone booths are used as urinals by men and I am for ever dodging urine trailing across the footpath. In Kilburn where I live I have to dodge food and vomit just to get to the supermarket. Thanks for the opportunity to have a say!
Sue Fesche, UK/London

I agree that litter is a problem, but what about the fire risk of cigarette butts in litter bins? If I could find one with the sand-filled top I would use it. I will not put cigarette ends in a litter bin.
Gavin Beatson, UK

In Austrailia they have one day in May where everyone is given a black bag and asked to fill it with rubbish from the streets and it is collected later by the local authority Anon

I grew up in California where we have strict litter laws. I moved to Liverpool and was stunned by the amount of littering that took place and nobody gave a darn. The place was a tip! California offers community service picking up trash along the roadsides and parksin lieu of paying a fine. Either way the person responsible for littering has to give something back to his/her community. Those wardens who enforce the litter laws deserve our respect and those who offend should be greatly ashamed.
John Moreno, UK

In Austrailia they have one day in May where everyone is given a black bag and asked to fill it with rubbish from the streets and it is collected later by the local authority so people end up having a bit of pride in where they live. In Javea in spain they have litter collectors working around the town and at the beach till 8.30pm.
Anon

So far we have looked at the dirtiest towns, but what about the cleanest? Two years ago I went on holiday to the Isle of Wight. We could not believe how clean the island was. Some people in my hometown in Essex try to take care of the place but others just don't care at all which makes me sad. I am 9 years old and if I can care, so can others. I don't think it takes much effort. In the Isle of Wight people really do seem to try much harder than they do here.
Laura Barlow, Essex, England

The sector is now in the situation it is in because the system, over the years, has been run by civil servants who have no concept of business Ron Burns, Scotland

I agree that Reading must be the filthiest place for miles and I am not surprised it has come number two in your top 10 dirtiest towns. The council has employed a few street wardens but they are hardly ever around. Nothing positive gets done. I'm afraid it all grandiose civic schemes and the small things that really affect peoples lives and environment are not heeded.
Tony Knott, England

I operate two homes in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The care home situation is a huge problem and has been brewing for many years. In simple terms, I believe that a major problem is that funding is directed through social work departments. These departments have for many years been the main purchaser and a major supplier of care home places. So, logically there was little need for councils to be particularly concerned about the private sector. The sector is now in the situation it is in because the system, over the years, has been run by civil servants who have no concept of business, market forces, strategic planning, business development and so on.
Ron Burns, Scotland

My own concern about the care homes issue is the top-up fee which relatives are being asked to pay. These can be increased by as much as the care company wishes and several times a year, unlike social services increases which are annual and usually the rate of inflation. My uncle has had to pay two increases this year and believes he is supplementing the social services bill!
Linda Sinclair, England

I witnessed my Dad kill my Mum in '95. He got a manslaughter charge and pleaded diminished responsibility. He did two years in a secure unit because he was suicidal at the time. I would like to see the law changed. I realise I won't see my Dad get any more punishment but I want to change things for the the future.
Kate Foster, Britain

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