Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#1
After recent postings on the forum and hearing how nice Pencester and the river looks ( very nice and clean ) I thought I would post these pictures just to let you all know how it is in the middle....................
Every meter is covered with litter of all descriptions, and what you cant see above the water level there is even more underneath it.
The river is becoming so choked with plant life that the river level has risen, ( good ) but it is not maintained.
even a set of step ladders
One of two dog litter bins on a major dog walking route overflowing.
The area at the back of the shops are so overgrown and full of rubish its a complete rat haven.
This photo says it all, after the match on Wednesday a group of 14 sat on the steps at the bottom of Limes Road, ( average age 16? ) all bottles and cans into the river, peeing up the walls in full view and confrontation with locals.
Do you Find this Acceptable? now you know why I get so wound up.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
ian
i saw that today, absolutely disgraceful.
did you also spot the flower beds and troughs with the crisp packets, soft drink cans and burger containers.
why we do not have a warden in that area in summer is beyond me, their wage and associated costs would be paid 6 times over by on-the-spot fines.
the weeds are the responsibility of our friends at the environment agency as you well know, maybe you could send them an e mail that they will not reply to?
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#3
I am with you all the way on this one Ian and what can we try which has not been done before it makes you sick just to see it all and that goes for the town aswell.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#4
This thread catches on from the WHOE IS ME thread.
We know we have a problem but no one listens. HOW much longer is Dover going to take this?
I've tried all of the angles Vic as Roger will testify to and he his self as tried to reason with the people responsible.
Their view is, it all looks very nice and it all looks very rosey.
The Barton path area is a pigsty. Sorry once again Diana but its true.
AND BEFORE ANYONE SAYS.....PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL SOMEONE. IT DOES NOT WORK.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#5
RE Howards posting.........Community safety day.
After a meeting with Roger and I with the EA last year I have received this letter from them. dated 17th June.
Dear Mr Lillford.
I was in Dover and on Barton path yesterday, I saw the river and was reminded that, when we met last year, I promised to stay in touch with you.
I thought to drop you a line to find out how things are goig.In particular, I wanted to ask if there was anything that you wanted to discuss or if there was any information that you wanted from us.
Also, I thought you might be interestd to know that we will be at an open day in Pencester Gardens on 26 June. if we hadn't caught up earlier and you were around, then it wouldbe good to see you there.
*** **** ( name with held )
TECHNICAL SPECIALIST,FRB KES ( EAST )
I have a full weekend trying to re-build a wall in the river that no one wants to know about and involves the council and the EA.
We have to do it ourselves ( all neighbours affected )
If you go to the Pencester event please look for the EA tent and stick one right up them and tell them how bad ( or not ) you feel about the river.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
#6
I dont Ian mate, but unfortuntately I am not at Pencester tommorrow otherwise i would on your behalf give em a kick in the lower halves of their bodies..
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#7
The monthly WCCP volunteer Dour clean will take place this Wednesday, meet 10:30 by Morrissons. We normally do Barton Path though I think this time we'll have our hands full.
My turn to rant. This is one of the reasons why I hate illegal fishing. Last time we found this poor moorhen chick tangled up in fishing wire and drowned at Charlton Green.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#8
I've printed off this thread Ian and will take it to Pencester for the EA.
It'll be interesting what they have to say about it.
Roger
#9
Totally disgusting , such a lovely area of dover something must be done.
#10
I have posted previously re litter/dog fouling in Dover and made reference to other towns/cities that operate a zero tollerance.
It was intertesting that at the last Dover Town Neighbourhood Forum on the 3rd June where our Head of Community Development/ Waste Services (Roger Walton) addressed the forum and was asked by several people the same question re litter/dog fouling and mess that is left in the street days after rubbish collection.
I am sure other forumites were present and I was surprised that it seemed that the "responsibility" was placed at the cleaning contractor (As tax payers I would have thought DDC should be responsible). Of course it is possible to contact DDC and from my own experience they have responded quickly.
However, neither the police or the Council in Dover favour "zero-tollerance" and until examples are made with the people who create the mess I fear things will not improve. A on-spot fine plus community service with the task of cleaning up the mess in the area.
Many towns and Cities in the UK enter the "Clean Briton Awards". The City of Lincoln achieved a 5 star rating and I have previosly said on this website as well as to Councils how it was achieved but sadly there is no interest.
I even asked Mr Walton if Dover entered this scheme but fell on stoney Ground.
With a new cleaning contract under way later this year and the apparant lack of "quality control" by DDC over the contractors I would suggest that "Achievements Targets" are part of the contract and to achieve a 3 star rating in the first year of contract with a 4 star in year 2 and 5 star in year three.
#11
Well said Pat.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#12
Roger
Was there any comment from the EA over this?
Sadly, I have no answer to all this. Perhaps with the new Government cutbacks, the EA might have to relinquish the stranglehold they have over our river; certainly they seem to be doing a magnificent job in ineffectiveness, I've never seen the river so choked. As a town we should be ashamed of this and demand action to stop precious money being wasted when there are perfectly good volunteers who can do the job a damned sight better. I shall be writing to Mr Elphicke about this.......perhaps he can do some good where Mr Prosser failed.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#13
I long ago offered to work cleaning the river and country-side from litter, but they turned it down! Probably no money!
#14
Andy, perhaps Charlie might even try, unlike his predecessor.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#15
I can only add I agree it's totally disgusting and that poor moorhen chick
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
#16
I went to the EA tent on Saturday and asked about the cleaning of the River Dour. They were very keen to explain that they did do maintenance work but got very vaugue when I asked about keeping it clear of litter and other debris. When I pressed the matter they insisted that cleaning the river was not their responsibility, they kept to this line even after explaining to them how it actually was under their management. They did, however, say they would look into it, more to get rid of me than out of any desire to do so I suspect.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#17
litter is not their responsibility chris.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#18
I'm not bothered who's job it is to clear it out, I'm bothered who's job it is to stop it happening in the first place.
This sort of thing goes on day after day after day, full bottles and cans come out of the river and the empties go back in.
Stop all of this and you will stop a lot of other problems.
And before anyone tells me to pick the phone up......FORGET IT.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#19
without wishing to repeat myself i will anyway.
one warden 300 quid a week would double his costs dishing out on the spot fines.
problem would be halved in no time, imagine those kids pictured above facing their parents who are stuck with forking out 80 quid?
forget the idea of educating people, we all know what is right and what is wrong.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#20
Thank you Howard.
If you do something naughty on the motorway your going to pay, if you park your car in the wrong place, your going to pay.
Do such like along the Dour and your going to get away with it.
Are the people in charge scared of doing this or are they just not bothered?
All of the people that spoke to the E.A at Pencester were just paid lip service as Chris will testify. How did you get on Roger? or do I already know the answer.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
