The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Sandra White tidies a roadside verge with a blower. Photo: VNG200814-12
In the latest in our Day In The Life series of getting an insight into people’s work, we feature a typical few days in the life of Spalding resident Sandra White, a volunteer clean-up campaigner.
Calling herself The Voice From The Gutter, married Sandra is often out on the streets at 6am and says she does it to help keep her town clean – and it’s useful exercise.
She said: “My hours of work are endless. I work for the public, no monies involved.
“When I get up in the morning, I cannot walk – it takes me half an hour to get going.
“If I didn’t do this work, I would be in a wheelchair.”
Earlier this year, MP Dan Rogerson, the minister responsible for litter policy, praised Mrs White’s work.
In a letter, he said: “I am very grateful for the work you do cleaning up your local area.
“The government welcomes this kind of community action, and I am pleased that your efforts were recognised by being shortlisted for a Pride of Britain Award.”
He added: “As you will know, local councils have a statutory duty to keep the streets clear of litter and refuse, but is up to them how best to do this and how to prioritise it against other local services.”
Here’s Sandra’s diary account of a few days’ chores:
MONDAY
I litter-pick in Westlode Street and find a man sleeping rough at the back of the shops.
Clean and bleach underneath a seat outside the police station. Someone sleeping on it had used it as a toilet.
Water plants in beds in Albion Street, pick up vodka bottle and earphones and clean vomit from in front of seat overlooking river.
Use blower to clean paths. I always find cigarette ends and drug packets.
TUESDAY
Clear rubbish from alleyway in Albion Street, sweep footpath and litter pick.
Cut shrubs and bushes, ready for mulching later this year. Found two pairs of ladies’ knickers and panty liners.
Use blower to clear riverside path.
WEDNESDAY
People going to and coming from work say ‘good morning’. I’m always being thanked for cleaning all the alleyways.
Fly-tipping is always a problem. This week I find a bed base, chair and television blocking the alleyway from Double Street to the riverside.
Ring South Holland District Council about the problem.
Then it’s over to tidy up near Chain Bridge Forge.
THURSDAY
Back to Albion Street and more litter picking. A Jack Daniel’s bottle and a Foster’s case had been thrown over a wire fence.
Someone sleeping rough had left cardboard and a blanket. Looked as though he intended to return.
FRIDAY
All quiet on the Western Front today! All fly-tipped material had been collected.
I clean a few paths of cigarette ends with the blower.
SATURDAY
I’m cleaning footpaths in Westlode Street at 7am when a person approaches me demanding I phone the district council about a microwave oven dumped by the former King’s Head bar.
If any fly-tipped articles are good, I sell them and use the money to buy cleaning materials or paint.
I finish litter-picking and head to the Royal Mail Cart for breakfast. Excellent.
SUNDAY
I bleach and wash off with clean water all shop steps and footpaths in Westlode Street where alcohol has been spilt last night.
Then I head to High Street. I move a roadworks sign which has been here eight months to the site of some current roadworks.
I call it a day after collecting approximately 20 bags of debris and two bags of recycling later, which I take to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in West Marsh Road.
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
I’m out first thing in the morning and find the area near USA Chicken in New Road in a terrible state.
All different kinds of food is strewn across the road.
There are alcohol cans and an empty spirits bottle left on shop windowsills.
Further up the road, a blue bag left on an iron fence contains two plastic bottles of urine.
TUESDAY
This morning I come across lots of green recycling bags full of contamination, such as eggs, containers not washed out, cigarette butts, and apples and oranges.
All transferred to black refuse bags.
Litter-picking is a daily task for Sandra. Photo: VNG200814-10
