Monday 21 March 2016

Eyesores.

This morning was the designated time for our car to go in to the Bodyshop for the work to be done on the back bumper (one side by me and the other by the farmer!).   We had to be there by half past eight, so it meant an early start for the thirty mile journey - and a courtesy car for the return journey.

Of course there was a lot of traffic and also a huge amount of road works on the A1 at Scotch Corner, where we join it.   Traffic cones, traffic lights, diversion signs - a real headache.

We had to leave the A1 at the Darlington turn off along the A66 link road.   Here the road, only a few miles long, runs through a sort of cutting.   The sides have been landscaped with silver birch trees and an absolute wealth of Spring flowers.   There were thousands of primroses out on it banks along the way and here and there drifts of daffodils waving in the breeze.

And what spoiled it all?   The rubbish.   The cigarette packets, the drinks cans, the take-away meals cartons - all thrown from the windows of passing cars.   Have these people no concept of beauty?
Do they not care what the countryside looks like?   Some of the silver birch trees were festooned with  strips of black or transparent plastic and here and there a whole bag of rubbish had been dumped.

There was a letter in our local paper at the week-end from someone complaining about dog owners who clean up after their dogs and then leave the offending black ''pooh bag' at the side of the path in some of our beauty spots.  This is the same sort of mentality and really I can't see any way of combatting it.

When I think that the people who have ruined the display of primroses with their rubbish are probably the same people who complain about the rise in Council Tax.   And all those primroses don't plant themselves, do they?   They have  been paid for by our local Councils in an effort to beautify a stretch of our roads which would otherwise be dull and uninteresting.

The words thoughtless, unimaginative and downright destructive are three words that spring to mind.

23 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

Unfortunately Pat you have hit on something there that is endemic throughout the country, many people simply get rid of their litter by throwing it from a car or as they walk along. Worse than that are the fly-tippers, they really don't give a toss.

Linda Metcalf said...

Same here in the US. If caught there are strict fines. Why do this when it's just as easy to throw in the trash bins? Laziness!

Heather said...

It seems to be the same across the country Pat. The bigger the road, the more rubbish. I did hear of someone who saw a motorist, stopped for traffic lights, throw an empty carton out of his window. She was quick enough to be able to throw it back in to him before the lights changed. I thought that was great. No doubt he chucked it out again later, but it may have made him think.

Gwil W said...

Inconsiderate. Selfish. And often in a BMW.

Joanne Noragon said...

Every Monday morning our two road crew men spend out picking up trash from township roads that was deposited over the weekend by thousands of visitors to the park. They are revolting little pigs raised by thoughtless parents.

Mac n' Janet said...

I've often thought that they're missing something mentally how else can you explain it. One of my sisters, who I have very little to do with use to throw stuff out the window and say that it would give someone a job.

Frances said...

Here in New York, littering also occurs, yet the sight of very full corner trash and recycling bins shows me that most folks do properly dispose of their trash. Sometimes, I think we need more trash receptacles, or more frequent emptying.

I do feel sorry for the primroses! xo

shadypinesqltr said...

I hate to see rubbish on the roadside. Here in Michigan, stretches of road can be"adopted" by organizations, companies or family groups. At least twice a year on designated weekends, they pick up the trash and leave the full bags for pick up on Mondays. It usually happens right before the state sends its road crews out to cut the grass and verges. It is a shame that it has to be done at all. Our state also has a bottle/can deposit law that has cut down on a lot of trash from that. You also see people making extra money by walking the roadsides with a plastic bag and picking up tossed bottles or candid they can turn them in for the deposit money.

donna baker said...

Instead of writing parking tickets, they need to be out watching and writing tickets for people that dump trash from vehicles. Make it a stiff penalty and encourage the public to take down license numbers and the littering will be a lot better.

Wilma said...

Don't even get me started!

angryparsnip said...

I agree with your post today and everyone's comment.
Something similar is public restrooms. Along the I-10 is a long stretch of road with no stops but a few rest stops. Arizona has really pretty one designed well, super clean and planted with trees. Due to budget cuts the state had to close them. Months later they were reopened. I happened to be on a long drive and had to stop to use the bathroom. I ran in at about 9:30 pm and I was greeted with paper towels everywhere, dirty diapers and just a huge mess. This was just right after they were re-opened.

What is wrong with people ? Do they live like this in their homes ? Generations of slobs.

cheers, parsnip

Librarian said...

Having to drive 30 miles to get your car repaired sounds a long way. But of course you do live in a very beautiful part of the world, and that remoteness/ruralness comes at the price of long distances to anywhere else.
Speaking of beauty, what you say about the rubbish is so true. I've never, never understood (and will never understand) why and how anyone can just dump their stuff where they are.
From early childhood my sister and I learned that sweets wrappers and other rubbish belongs into rubbish bins. And if there is none available, for instance while out walking, you keep it in your pocket or bag until you come across a bin or arrive home. You were able to carry it while it was full, so you'll be even more easily be able to carry it when it is empty, right?
Apparently, some people really have no sense of beauty and decency at all. If caught in the act and spoken to, I am sure they would turn really nasty and aggressive. Such a shame!

Coppa's girl said...

Unfortunately they are the sort of people who don't want the rubbish in their car, but don't mind dropping it out of the window, to spoil someone else's neighbourhood.
I have found a similar thing with dog walking. We always clear up after our dogs and dispose of the bags in rubbish bins, but I'm amazed at the number of people who don't bother - as long as it's not near their house of course.

Rachel Phillips said...

My nephew has just moved to Melsonby. He works in Darlington. My brother said it is near Scotch Corner. He wouldn't throw rubbish down.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel - I know Melsonby - it is not so far from where we live - so if you come up this way to visit him you must call in,
Frances - I think you are right about needing more trash bins - I did notice many on the journey which were overflowing and that doesn't help matters.
Seems we are all among the tidy people. Thanks for contributing to the debate.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

It's horrendous. Fly tipping is a major problem here, and despite advertised penalties of 50K no one ever gets prosecuted for it. I really wish they would.

Terry and Linda said...

I am always so 'tired' when I see all the trash and rubbish thrown here and there and all around. Even out here on the farm...way down the long, long lane to our mail box I find people's trash and garbage and beer bottles and whatever (diapers) tossed out the window so they don't have to worry with in anymore. Sad really.

Linda

Barbara said...

We have the same issues here. Although there are stretches where different groups have "adopted" roads and make it their business to keep it tidy, for the most part the roadsides are a mess! It just makes me sad.

Cro Magnon said...

Oh dear, what more does one have to do to educate people. I keep a plastic bag permanently in my pocket for other people's mess.

thelma said...


Once in a car park, these youngsters threw there Mcdonald's trash out of the car window, right in front of the bin, so I got out of our car, picked up the trash and pointedly put it into the bin, and they did not heckle me ;) But rivers also have trash wrapped around the bushes and trees from when there has been flooding, the people who casually throw away litter out of cars should be made to walk the lanes and pick it up.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks everyone. I don't suppose there are enough of us to say that if we all pull together then we can make a difference - but there are thousands like us out there, so perhaps one day it will be better. I don't think companies help by putting so much packaging around stuff.

jinxxxygirl said...

A little late here Pat... been on a trip... but Hubs and i don't litter and we taught our children not to litter and it saddens me to see it ... Something i would never dream of doing other people do it without a second thought.......What to do about it? Well i pick up after them... like their 'MOther'...because i don't want to look at it.. The roads here have $1000 fine if you are caught littering... I don't think that is enforced very much because people still litter.. :) Hugs! deb

jinxxxygirl said...

Okay sorry for the double comment Pat but someone really must tell me what a fly tipper is... lol