AUTHORITIES MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE USED TO GET MESSAGE ACROSS AFTER SHARP INCREASE IN LITTER LOUTS' BEHAVIOUR

COUNTY AND NORTH WARWICKSHIRE IN JOINT ACTION PROMPTED BY 'SHEER VOLUME OF ADDITIONAL WASTE'

FED-UP council bosses have launched a strongly-worded campaign aimed at halting a sharp increase in littering of country parks and open spaces.

Local authority partners said they are making no apologies for the language used to Atherstone and district residents to get the "don't be a tosser" message across.

The county council and North Warwickshire have joined forces in taking a firm response to complaints from the public who asked if they would consider running a campaign that has been used successfully in New Zealand and elsewhere in the UK.

Given the extent of the littering, and the sheer volume of additional waste, the councils agreed.

Warwickshire County Councillor Heather Timms, portfolio holder for environment and heritage and culture said: "We are fully behind this campaign, and although we appreciate the language used is not in keeping with our usual approach we agree with our colleagues at borough that the issue of littering warrants such a hard-hitting campaign.

"Clearing up litter nationally costs taxpayers almost £1 billion per year but more importantly we are still amid a global pandemic and there is a significant increased risk of spreading Covid-19 through littering.

"This campaign is aimed at telling the litter louts just what the rest of us think: There are no excuses so take it home."

The posters will be put up in local parks and open spaces as well as countryside settings at Hartshill Hayes, Pooley View and Kingsbury by community champions and council staff over the next few weeks.

The wording on the posters and leaflefts asks why rubbish is being dumped, and ticks boxes suggesting the people who drop litter indiscriminately don't care about the countryside, the community and think other people should clean up for them.

Have you seen examples of this behaviour in your neighbourhood? Then email us at Atherstone Nub News on [email protected]