Park canal turned into dumping ground
A shocking mess greets visitors to a favourite beauty spot.
The dumped junk ranges from pushchairs, children's toys and tyres to discarded plastic bags, tin cans and bottles, and has turned a section of the Grand Union Canal, in Abbey Park, into an eyesore.
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Grand Union Canal in Abbey Park
The sight disgusted visitor Emma Mani so much she took photographs and published them on her blog.
She has written to Leicester City Council calling on it to take action.
However, the council's riverside rangers said they were doing everything they could to tackle the problem but were overwhelmed by the amount of rubbish dumped in city waterways.
They said they collect about four cubic metres of junk from Abbey Park every week.
Mrs Mani, 31, from Humberstone, Leicester, said: "I couldn't believe it. It was disgusting – that's why I decided to take the photographs. There were rats.
"It is not just things that have collected and have been washed down the river, but things people have thrown and dumped there.
"This is something the council needs to follow up. Something needs to be done."
Ranger Adrian Lane said no organisation had legal responsibility for clearing rubbish from the river.
If the rubbish is causing pollution, the clean-up is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, but, if it is blocking the canal or river, it is the duty of British Waterways to remove it.
Mr Lane said his staff and volunteers had taken on the job of clearing the rubbish to try to improve the environment.
However, he admitted much of their time had been taken up with clearing invasive plants such as pennywort.
He said his staff had constructed a boom in Abbey Park with tennis nets, to try to stop the rubbish getting further down the river.
Some of the rubbish in the photographs had been collected in the boom, other items had been washed on to the banks by recent high water and more had been dumped by park users.
Mr Lane said: "It is an eyesore. A massive amount gets stuck there.
"We are doing the best we can. We have two people and a truck there every week. We are going above and beyond our job to try to deal with this, but we are overwhelmed.
"We clear it one week and it is back the next.
"Since we have been working to deal with the pennywort problem in the south and centre of the city, there is a lot of litter and rubbish that has built up in the north side. I am ashamed of it.
"It is a sad reality that until society changes and stops dumping these things, we will continue to face this problem."
Regular park visitor Rosie Christian, who is a member of the Abbey Park user group, said: "I have seen the rubbish on the banks of the river in the park. It is sad.
"People should take more responsibility for themselves.
"Some people just walk through the park drinking cans of beer and then throw them on to the grass."
5 Comments
by Niki, Leicester
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 2:43PM
“Leicester is terrible for litter.. people do not seem to know what a bin is for! (Saying that, if there was actually any bins along the tow path of the canal people might use them!)
I can not understand the mentality of people who will happily carry a sandwich to a bench, to sit and munch whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery, and leave the wrapper behind to spoil it for the next person. Is it too 'uncool' for them to carry it home?
It's very sad because the river and canal are not the only places in our beautiful city which are being blighted by the disgusting litter... the old under pass area near the Magazine is awful and is an eyesore. The underpass has been filled in with concrete and the area leading down to it is covered in a layer of litter. Yuk. This is the main route to the university.. is no one ashamed?
I grew up in a country where it was illegal to drop litter, and policemen carried guns so you didn't argue. It didn't do me any harm. I always put my rubbish in my pocket or take a bag with me... and I always end up picking up everyone else's litter too.
People seriously need re-educating and should be ashamed of themselves if they contribute to this ever growing layer of litter which is consuming our city.”
by Alison, Markfield
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 2:18PM
“It's most noble of people to attempt litter clearance themselves, but surely the best thing would be to catch the wretched culprits and make them do it? I realise the police are overstretched - they have to control the mess at Highcross car park, for a start - but simply tidying up after these filthy idiots will do no good at all in the long run. I love Abbey Park and hate to think of it being abused in this way. May the louts get a soaking along with their rubbish!”
by andy, leicester
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:56AM
“It is the people of Leicestershire who drop the litter and contribute to the fly tipping we hear about (and see) everyday across the City and County. Until people change their behaviour, this sort of thing will continue to be a problem. If people did not drop litter, it wouldn't have to be anyone's 'responsibility' to pick it up.”
by Kim, Wigston
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:54AM
“I agree in part to Robert - if Emma Mani is so concerned I am sure they would appreciate her to volunteer like all the other people are doing. I have seen the amount of rubbish in a few of our waterways and the Council is trying their best to sort it out. At least there are some volunteers helping to try and keep our waterways clean. However I agree they are fighting a losing battle in that once they have cleared one spot, more rubbish appears! It is down to individuals discarding rubbish in the rivers to take it to a tip instead of using our disappearing green spaces and rivers as their own personal bin!”
by Robert, Leicester
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 10:23AM
“This is not a new problem. I don't suppose there was ever a time when there wasn't rats along the canal, but instead of just moaning about it (as I suspect everyone will) why not take some responsibility and pick rubbish up. I do, and not only does it make me feel exceedingly righteous, but it makes a real difference.
Best thing, actually, would be to collect some bags full of rubbish and take it to the Environment Agency offices and ask them to deal with it.”