Every other Monday morning, before the refuse collection team arrives, the streets in the upper town are a public disgrace. The pink bag recycling system as it currently operates is not fit for purpose. Unless the sacks are protected from the reach of our resident gull population, they are pulled about and ripped opened with their contents spread in disgusting fashion across the street.
The bin men do a fantastic job and so does the council-employed litter picking team. By 11 o’clock, the situation is greatly improved; but what a waste of effort and what a heedless attitude on the part of those residents who cause the problem! Can you imagine a German city or Singapore condoning such a blight, without it being classified as anti-social activity amounting to criminal behaviour? Are we prepared to trade some of our civil rights freedoms for a bit of civic housekeeping sanity?
For some time, responsible house-owners have been able to purchase black hessian sacks that were first introduced to the area by Hastings Borough Council. Perhaps their use should be made compulsory for those who cannot otherwise safeguard their pink bags from gull depredation?
