City's wombles urge residents to join litter picks

13 hours ago

Alex Pope

News image — The Peterborough Litter Wombles, a group of volunteers, regularly go out and about across the city clearing up rubbish

Harry Machin Three people, standing by a large amount of rubbish, including blue and green bin bags. — The Peterborough Litter Wombles, a group of volunteers, regularly go out and about across the city clearing up rubbish

Litter picks are to take place across a city to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish correctly.

Peterborough City Council said every year it spends "significant funds" cleaning up litter that "could be spent on other essential services".

The picks, part of Great British Spring Clean, will take place from Friday 13 to Sunday 29 March.

Peterborough Litter Wombles (PLW), who are also involved, said it had identified specific spots that needed cleaning up.

Harry Machin Two images of the same patch of land. The image on the right is full of rubbish, leaves, grass and foliage, there is also a wooden fence to the right. The image on the left shows the area cleared of rubbish with just leaves and foliage. — A patch of Peterborough land before and after the Peterborough Litter Wombles had worked their magic

Harry Machin, founder of PLW, said: "It's good for people to get involved right across Peterborough.

"We've got to the point where people can really make the difference.

"We've identified a lot of sites that really need cleaning up and we're really looking forward to getting on with it.

"It's perfect timing as the council has been clearing back vegetation before the birds start to nest and it has revealed so much historic litter and we're getting on with it and picking it up as well."

The free events will be held across the city including at Boongate, Cardea, Dogsthorpe, Eye, Hampton, Hempsted, Newborough, Orton Goldhay, Park Farm and Paston.

All equipment including high-vis jackets and litter pickers will be provided.

Harry Machin A pile of rubbish by the side of a road. There are a number of vapes in a metal basket, the rubbish includes a water can, toys, wood, lots of green and blue waste bags, and other items. They are sitting on a patch of grass. — A pile of rubbish recently collected by the PLW including a TV screen, about 20 vapes, a chair and wood

Labour councillor Angus Ellis, cabinet member for environment and transport, said he hoped many individuals, groups, businesses and schools would take part.

"We are fully committed to cleaning up litter and want to highlight that, despite our best efforts and those of local voluntary groups, it continues to be a problem which everyone has a part to play in tackling."

Last year about 200 volunteers collected more than 500 bags of litter, the council said.

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