Clearing up at Spalding grotspots

Almost 20 bin bags of rubbish were picked up from some of Spalding’s worst grot spots during a three hour clean-up operation.

The mammoth litter-pick was carried out by a team of seven people – including six members of staff from a town centre business and a member of the public who volunteered to help.
The workers from accountants Moore Thompson arranged the event on behalf of the firm’s own charity fund.
Emma Wilson, on behalf of Moore Thompson, said: “We cleared 19 bin bags from around Spalding town centre.
“While we were really pleased with our efforts we felt it really highlighted the litter problems in the town as we never imagined we’d collect this much.”
The litter-pickers split into two teams and targeted areas including Abbey Path and along the river near Ayscoughfee Gardens.
Within just 50 minutes, one team cleared six bags of rubbish from Abbey Path and also tidied the surrounding private car parks.
Emma added: “These were inundated with litter and whilst it wasn’t public land, the rubbish would inevitably end up there.
“Moore Thompson’s premises is situated in the town centre – opposite Hills – and we would hate our office front to look untidy and inundated with litter, so we thought we would help out other local businesses too.”
The volunteers then moved on to Gore Lane, Vine Street, the former Johnson Hospital, Priory Road and St Thomas’s Road.
Both sides of the river bank from Ayscoughfee up to Balmoral Avenue were also targeted, although the litter-pickers were unable to get down to the water line.
Emma said: “This was our first time attempting to clear the streets of litter so we had no idea how many areas we’d be able to target.
“We originally planned to target Abbey Path, Gore Lane and near Ayscoughfee so the rest was an added extra!
“We were approached by several residents thanking us for our efforts and that we were doing a good job. It was so lovely to hear this and that our work was being noticed.
“The most frustrating thing was finding litter right next to a bin!
“It wasn’t a case that the litter had blown out because the bins are emptied regularly and were clearly not full.”
A second litter pick was planned for this week, targeting areas including Park Road and Pennygate.