Forum Topic

Rubbish and mess on High Road

HiIt seems like the High Road is becoming increasingly grotty, which is just heartbreaking. We regularly litter pick but it’s impossible for a few residents to keep on top of. I know all councils are strapped for cash now but is there anything we can do? It’s starting to make our beloved neighbourhood a bit run down. I’m guessing the problem is a mix of plastic bags being used, which the foxes rip open, and public bins just not being emptied enough. Has this been raised before maybe?Thanks all so much KA

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1175d56 Comments

Hi Kelly-Anne,I completely agree with you and this morning I took photographs and have sent them to our Ward Councillors asking them to forward them onto the relevant department at LB Hounslow.The High Road is an absolute disgrace and it needs us all to tell LBH that the grubby, litter strewn main street that runs through Chiswick is not acceptable.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1175d

Ive said it many times Bins are no good and you cant empty a bin say lunchtime and wait until lunchtime the next day. In the summertime the bins need to be emptied mornings and late as possible in the evening given working times. Those double bins just get blocked up due to the opening and when you get coffe cups pushed through the opening just gets blocked.And like me i dont want to be putting my hands on rubbish sticking out to push in for my litter. Councils dont get it. The bins around the back common TGT get used so much they are over flowing by afternoon and have to wait until the next day to be emptied and then people start putting rubbish on the floor next to the bins and then come along the foxes.

Julian Pavey ● 1175d

People buy lot of stuff with lots of packaging and then expect to just dump whatever is left over including the waste packaging.  No bins could ever be big enough because as soon as you start collecting more often and putting bigger bins there then you encourage more and the flytipping of bigger items and bags of general waste being added.Everyone seems to want someone else to clean up after them instead of taking more responsibility for themselves.We should be grateful for those who litterpick what should only be the odd carelessly dropped litter not huge amounts of party waste.  Disposing of your waste sustainably should be factored into your arrangements - don't take too much and be prepared to take some home with you.Squirrels often get inside lidded bins and take things out and crows know all about taking out those little bags with sandwich remains in them.  If people took more care to squash their packaging their would also be more space. Unfortunately the Govt still haven't got themselves together with their long awaited new waste strategy and have now made things more difficult for Scotland who are still aiming to lead with the Deposit Return System.  The Climate Change Committee have for the third year running warned about not increasing EfW.Leaving stuff beside recycling bins is a flytipping offence so presumably it is or should be with street and park bins.  Small kids could teach adults how to flatten and fold up pizza boxes. And they should all know the difference between aluminium and steel and which metal sticks to a magnet.

Philippa Bond ● 1175d

"People buy lot of stuff with lots of packaging and then expect to just dump whatever is left over including the waste packaging." In that case,dont by a sandwich and coffe from shops guys and girls.   "No bins could ever be big enough because as soon as you start collecting more often and putting bigger bins there then you encourage more and the flytipping of bigger items and bags of general waste being added." We are talking street bins with silly openings not commercial bins"veryone seems to want someone else to clean up after them instead of taking more responsibility for themselves." We pay council tax for street cleaners to empty bins. And for those blooming squirrels,dont get me going on that one. Last night they were marching down CHR like an army

Julian Pavey ● 1175d

It would also help if people didn't try to cram stuff into an already overflowing bin, and could be bothered to walk 30 feet to a nearby bin that isn't overflowing (I'm thinking in particular of the closest bin to the entrance to Turnham Green Tube station which is frequently stuffed to the gills while the bins opposite side on the green have loads of space).

Andrew Jones ● 1175d

Perhaps they should leave a skip there once a month 😉

Janice Evans ● 1174d

"while the bins opposite side on the green have loads of space" Which are filled and everflowing of an evening in the summer. Again,its the design of the bin outside the tube station that is no good. And again needs emptying more than just the once a day

Julian Pavey ● 1174d

I'm not talking about commercial bins!Well today I have just come back from H&F where I came across a street bin outside a church where someone had selfishly and thoughtlessly pushed a large half flat corrugated cardboard box right across the opening to it - blocking proper use by everybody else.  The result - others had tried to put coffee/drink cups and a water bottle in...but none of those cups had even been flattened.  By the time I came past again they had all blown out of the bin and were rolling around on the ground with lids off and straws spread around.How difficult is it to remove the top of a take away coffee cup, drop the lid and straw in the bin and flatten the cup?I did it with one hand and dropped them in the bin and then cleaned my hands.  That reduces the VOLume making more space in the bin.Julian - the opening for the bin will be small to stop people putting black bin bags full of refuse in.  These bins are for litter and not for household waste.  In fact if you use litter bins for household waste it is an offence for which you can be fined... as I know you know!I do agree that there is a need for more emptying in hotter weather when more people are about - but our weather is very unpredictable and I don't suppose everyone wants to pay extra ALL the time for just-in-case-the-sun-shines cleaners to be on permanent stand-by, do they?  Because if they are being paid and aren't needed there will just be - even more complaints!BTW How many people still haven't even read the recycling info on the label on their plastic milk bottles recently? 

Philippa Bond ● 1174d

JP has made relevant and salient points, there needs to more and/or bigger bins in Chiswick especially along CHR, DR and TGT. I've no idea what LBH's budget is for keeping our pavements and roads clean from rubbish, but either it's not enough or it badly managed and allocated.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1174d

Outside Starbucks,  cnr of Belmont Rd,is a disgrace.  They don't bother sweeping up the litter (their own) after they're closed and it blows everywhere.

Juliet Hogg ● 1174d

I think P thinks bigger bins on the high road on a main shopping street will causewhere people will turn up with black bags and sofassorry to say but a good pleasant world in p's world does not exist so you have to work on the basis ofwhat we have now and how to combat it

Julian Pavey ● 1174d

YOU may well jest - but that IS what some people do!  Leave a gate unlocked or an empty bin out and somebody takes advantage.  Where the trees have a lot of growth around the base of the trunks - they are decorated with on-the-go-drinks containers.Remember going shopping in the 60s?  We (or my mother) took a basket.  Then to make sure we could shop even when we had no basket metal ones were provided for us and to make sure we could buy and carry even more - plastic carrier bags were provided.  Then trolleys and then vans! The Council probably also needs to do a new check on all businesses to make sure that they have their Business Waste Contracts in place and are actually using them properly. Anybody know when it was last done?  We used to be able to see CCTV pictures of people dumping waste on the Councils' websites. Don't some of these fast food places now recycle more of their waste?  Don't they sponsor bins or Keep Our Streets Clean posters?  It's disappointing to hear of companies not clearing up what is obviously waste from their own businesses.  Maybe a photoshoot is in order?

Philippa Bond ● 1174d

And we all ought to be trying to use reusable containers and taking them home to reuse and also taking home our recyclable at home containers so that everything doesn't end up in EfW and what can be kept in a circular economy is.The Climate Change Committee has warned three years running about increasing EfW.https://resource.co/article/case-decarbonising-efw

Philippa Bond ● 1174d

Really interesting to read everyone’s points. We have really noticed it getting worse recently, made even more obvious by a trip to Richmond which is just immaculate. I think more regular emptying of bins is a must on such a busy high road. We want the visitors and vibrancy but it just looks a bit grim. Have you had any luck with complaining to the council? I find Hounslow SO unresponsive.

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1173d

I’m sure you’re right Julian, and you’ve outlined the larger problems but even so some people are just too lazy to walk 30ft to dispose of their litter properly.

Andrew Jones ● 1173d

People are just plain lazy.  It is a people problem.  They will just get up and leave their rubbish all around them.  We had this years ago when there were some brilliant 2 min films that people made, and also some good Keep Britain Clean posters.  Even when the bin is within sight and just a few feet away there are people who won't bother.  We need more people to bother. Just flatten your waste and put it in the bin or take it home and recycle it.Why keep on visiting the same old problem?  It looks like we need to have the Enforcement Officers back out dishing out fines if people just can't be bothered.

Philippa Bond ● 1173d

https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/dont-stop-fleetwood-mac-cover-avelino-steve-mcqueen/

Philippa Bond ● 1173d

It is awful and depressing. Inadequate bins, inadequate emptying, inadequate numbers of street cleaners,inadequate road sweeping, inadequate response from LBH when matters are raised through Fix My Street or through our councillors, inadequate management and inadequate civic pride. Our adjoining neighbours' cleanliness put Hounslow to shame. And don't get me started on the weeds and trees now growing in our gutters, and the potholes in our roads. So much for a cleaner greener Hounslow.

Mandy Waters ● 1173d

Hounslow Council - we are paying huge sums in our council tax and the disgraceful appearance of our high street and beyond  makes me wonder why we pay such  unbelievable  amounts ?  I do realise how much we do pay for your own personal needs but isn't it time you acknowledged that Chiswick used to be a great place to live.  No longer !

Helen Bamberger ● 1173d

Ditto Ealing. It's the Tory cuts you know!

Peter King ● 1173d

Yes Peter maybe we should all vote for the loony party next time !!!

Helen Bamberger ● 1173d

For info, I had a meeting with Hounslow officers two weeks ago about the horrible waste littering our roads. The main motive was to look at Devonshire Road, with shop/cafe owners, and sort out the overflowing bin, where the bin should go (not in front of a cafe), left-out waste sacks that are ripped open with inevitable strewn waste spreading along the road, as well as litter picking generally.  The discussion inevitably included the deterioration of waste management along Chiswick High Road, Turnham Green Terrace, Elliott Road and generally. Officers acknowledged that there had been a lapse in the service.One of our regular road sweepers has not been seen for a while. Replacement people had not been briefed properly on which roads to do and that would be rectified. We have a new road sweeper, Olga (with blonde hair), who is now on CHR, Devonshire Road and TGT daily and I hope this is making a difference.  Every road should be swept once a fortnight but it is clear this is not happening and this is also being checked. I am waiting for an update and will post anything significant here.

Joanna Biddolph ● 1172d

"I do agree that there is a need for more emptying in hotter weather when more people are about - but our weather is very unpredictable and I don't suppose everyone wants to pay extra ALL the time for just-in-case-the-sun-shines cleaners to be on permanent stand-by, do they?"They don't have a problem in Spain. Litter bins are emptied regularly. You never see an overflowing bin. People in the UK pay for the service so they should get it. If the Council came clean (excuse pun) ans admitted they can't cope, they should say so and increase taxes or reduce expenses elsewhere. Nobody wants to live in a litter strewn dump!

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

"made even more obvious by a trip to Richmond which is just immaculate."We don't have a Labour Council in Richmond.

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

"It's the Tory cuts you know!"Didn't Richmond also suffer Tory cuts?

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

Yeh well if you vote labour you have to talk propper english and the outcome is you get premoted to being middle class and  broke at the same time.

Julian Pavey ● 1170d

The Govt controls the amount that Council Tax can be increased and what it can be used for.

Philippa Bond ● 1170d

I walk the high road most mornings - acton lane to the terrace- and agree it is mostly an omnishmables of unloved discarded detrius..HOWEVER ! something has clearly changed- this morning its as clean as Ive ever seen it - there must have been a  co-ordinated deep clean - all the pavements were clear, all the bins emptied, no purple/blue/clear etc bags scattered anywhere - anyone know what changed?Either way, it shows it can be done- just not consistently. I think the majority of high road & green space go-ers do try and use the bins- its just they are not emptied often enough or at the right times.. through my work ive had the occasion to talk to councils who have budgets to spend on technology and there is an obsession with Smart bins (i kid you nit) to automatically signal someone they are full- for gwads sake ( i always say) just employ someone to empty the things and use the budget that way- however its an IT pot, not a steet cleeaning pot, im told.WHoever ( at the council ) came up with a plan that has three or four different refuse trucks and firms to come or not come, and in the process leaves bags waiting in the street for foxes and people to  fall over and worse, needs to have an E on their annual report- Surely theres a simpler way of positioning bins that all the shops can use and are emptied once or twice a day, at a specfic time- that way the original cause of most of the litter problem goes away..

Tim Garfoot ● 1170d

Looking at the illustrated proposals for 167-211 Chiswick High Road  it is immediately noticeable that the new seating have no bins adjacent to them.Surely jumbo sized ones will be needed if the street food scheme goes ahead.As to the the proposed scheme I would say it is an improvement but that's about it and by no means a priority spend in these difficult times.

Adrian Irving ● 1170d

Bins attract wasps and flies and can smell and are not very nice to sit next to.  But people seem to find it impossible to walk as far as the bin that is within their view.  The answer is not just bigger bins or more frequently emptied bins.  It is more responsible people.

Philippa Bond ● 1169d

On the grassy slopes on the river next to Richmond Bridge there is a bin next to every bench.They never smell, there are no flies and they are never full (I assume it's because they are emptied a couple of times a day) and there is never any litter strewn next to the bins. How come Richmond looks so neat and tidy and Chiswick looks like a dump?

Steve Taylor ● 1169d

You always compare Chiswick to Richmond yet when I've been to Richmond I've found it very depressingly disappointing - and not that clean either.

Philippa Bond ● 1169d

Exactly Steve.If the bins aren't near the benches then some people will just dump it in the adjacent  planted areas.

Adrian Irving ● 1169d

Next to them is too far for a lot of people!

Philippa Bond ● 1169d

At least the M&S branch in Richmond continues to have a SOFT PLASTICS RECYCLING facility...where as the Chiswick branch have discontinued theirs. The Hounslow Councillor with overallresponsibly for rubbish recycling is Guy Lambert ..but he has told me he doesn't know the difference between paper / card / and cardboard! Go figure.

Jim Lawes ● 1169d

Not sure why you find Richmond depressingly disappointing. Also not sure why you don’t find it clean. It is the most sought after Borough in London and, as said, there is rarely any litter on the river or on Richmond Green due to the fact that litter bins are placed next to the benches. Not rocket science; just common sense. I guess it’s the fundamental difference between Lib Dem and Labour run councils.

Steve Taylor ● 1169d

“Next to them is too far for a lot of people!”Perhaps for Hounslow Borough people but certainly not for Richmond people. But then again it’s the psychological impact of ‘curbside’ appearance. When people are in a neat and tidy environment like Richmond, they tend to want to keep it that way and perhaps make additional effort. If people perceive an area to be a dump, they will just dump their rubbish Willy Nilly.  If the Council makes no effort the people will make no effort.  It’s down to the calibre of the councillors you elect.

Steve Taylor ● 1169d

Rubbish Steve.The only people I've met sweeping their own bit of pavement in Chiswick weren't British.  The same with Ealing.  I agree it helps though.

Philippa Bond ● 1168d

“ The only people I've met sweeping their own bit of pavement in Chiswick weren't British”What the hell on you on about. I don’t recall anywhere on this thread where people’s nationalities were mentioned.  You really spout a load of rubbish don’t you!  It seems to be getting worse. Chill out a bit.

Steve Taylor ● 1168d

😁

Julian Pavey ● 1168d

Not sure why you made that up, Jim!I am intimately aware of the difference between cardboard and paper. Paper for a start is more precious - last April we recycled 23 Tonnes of it for a fairly generous price (can't put my hand on numbers this evening) whilst we recycled nearly 400 tonnes of card in the same month. The price is less so we like to separate paper from card where possible because it is recycled in the UK whilst card often has to go overseas because there isn't much recycling capacity in the UK. You seem to have a distinction between card and cardboard but this is not recognised in the recycling industry

Guy Lambert ● 1168d

Well it's true.  What's the matter with that?  It's probably why you find Spain so spick and span - they value their visitors more.

Philippa Bond ● 1168d

Your assertion that we British do not care for the state of our streets, unlike our foreign residents is offensive.I believe we have a problem with small bands of teenagers who you would hope grow out of their waywardness in time. I expect this problem is repeated in other inner cities abroad.Philippa, are you aware that the first Sunday of every month, apart from a midsummer break, a large group of volunteers congregate outside a designated local church and tidy up the muck and detritus around Chiswick's greens.I have seen them at work on several Sundays in the past and there certainly appeared to be a preponderance of British folk tidying up.Would you believe it.

Denis I. Fox ● 1168d

In general if rich or poor people used to be proud of their surroundings, things were kept tidy and clean, I know from experience the colleges don'tmake students use the bins, after lunch there used to be a sea of rubbish to wade through, they also need educating about social behaviour. The training should begin when young.  And bring back National Service.

Janice Evans ● 1168d

Also think the appearance of an area matters as if tidy and clean otherswill be less likely to leave litter, if an area is unkept everyone will leave litter. So large bins and regular collection would help.

Janice Evans ● 1168d

“ The training should begin when young.”Totally agree. It’s bad parenting. Irresponsible parents produce irresponsible kids.

Steve Taylor ● 1168d

“ It's probably why you find Spain so spick and span - they value their visitors more.”It’s nothing to do with the Spanish valuing their visitors more. It’s simply a case of competent Councils respecting their citizens. It’s also innovated and intelligent thinking. In some areas you have your normal sized litter bin but, underneath the bin  there is a huge container of  about  10 cubic metres so the litter drops down into it. The Council them clears these huge ‘underground’ bins once a week and you have no problem of overflowing litter. You also have zero tolerance by street wardens so any scum people not using the litter bins can be prosecuted.

Steve Taylor ● 1168d

Also in Spain the preponderance of fast food outlets just doesn't exist. Except for where there are hordes of tourists demanding them. Spaniards are far more likely to sit down at a table to eat a meal than the British are, and far more likely to stand at or sit in a bar to drink a coffee. Get rid of disposable plates, boxes, bags and cups, and miraculously a high percentage of current waste in UK high streets will miraculously disappear.

Sue Rowe ● 1168d

I find it really offensive that there are people who are irresponsible enough to think it is OK to just ditch their waste on the street and to think that everyone else should pay for their irresponsibility.  There is a difference between deliberately left waste when people just get up and leave all their waste where they were sitting and the accidental waste.  You see this in the parks, in the flower beds and in the street and around any seats. I've done the litterpicking thing - that used to be big in Acton. However it does not get to the root of the problem and that is where and what the problem is.

Philippa Bond ● 1167d

Get rid of MacDonalds and there will be considerably less litter in the UK. Why is it that so many people getting MacDonalds think it’s appropriate to just dump the wrappings on the ground. So much also  around motorway exits. The first traffic light or roundabout and the scum think it’s ok to empty their vehicles of all litter.

Steve Taylor ● 1167d

If MacDonalds were required to charge a refundable fee on their packaging that might go a long way to solve the problem.Even if "the scum" still dropped it, there would be others happy to pick it up and take it back for the refund.

Richard Greenhough ● 1166d

The problem may be what fast food does to the brain though!Fast food is addictive but does not necessarily satisfy your hunger (and if it does not for very long) - a great disappointment!  There are lots of articles about it.Why can't folks see that taking that lid and straw out of the cup and flattening the cup makes it easier to put them all in a bin, leaves more space in that bin and the half-in-half-out cup does not roll around the street - and what's more no big effort.

Philippa Bond ● 1166d

“The problem may be what fast food does to the brain though!“Mmmm. That is indeed true so I think it’s likely that many consuming fast food don’t have much of a brain to start with.

Steve Taylor ● 1166d

It just shows that fast food establishments should take more care and effort in incentivising their customers to think...  and put their food and drink packaging into bins and not give them such bad publicity by leaving it all over the place. The thought has probably not even crossed their minds about just REDucing the VOLume to put that packaging in a BIN.Their ads already pop up all over the place...  perhaps a bit of subliminal input would help!

Philippa Bond ● 1166d

“ incentivising their customers to think..”The last thing they want to do is incentivise their customers to think. If their customers started thinking they would soon learn how bad the fast food is for their physical and mental health. The salts and sugars can be addictive. Customers should be aware of the saturated fats and calories but the addiction doesn’t allow them to think about it.

Steve Taylor ● 1166d

Walking around Richmond early this morning it was clear that Richmond Council is just so much more competent than Hounslow. Bigger bins, more bins, strategically placed. The bins have equally sized compartments for general litter and recycling. No overflowing litter on the ground. What a pleasure to have a competent Council.

Steve Taylor ● 1164d