Three months on and Calle Niagara is still not Cleaned

[Ellsam]

At the meeting held on the 17th April 2008 between Los Verdes, represented by Councillor for the Coast, Monserrate Guillén, supported by members of the Orihuela Costa Working Group, and the Partido Popular Councillor for the Coast, José A Aniorte Grua, Calle Niagara was included in the list, supported with photographs, of the sites within Orihuela Costa that were subject to litter fly-tipping and required cleaning up by the Council.

On the 24th April 2008 Los verdes received an email from Javier Canovas, Asesor to Sr Aniorte, in which it was stated that Calle Niagara had been cleaned up.



As can be seen from the photographs, 12 weeks on, and the rubbish alongside the public pathway is still there in full view to the public; residents and visitors alike. Despite assurances given by the Council representatives nothing has been done to clear the rubbish at this location. It isn’t a case of the area being cleaned and then more rubbish being dumped, because it can be seen from three dated photographs that the appearance of the rubbish hasn’t changed, just more added. This shows that 'Litter attracts Litter'.

There cannot be any doubt that the Council cleaning department vehicles must have been driven along this major access road at some time in the last three months and yet the rubbish has been ignored!

This highlights the need for the continual running of the Clean up the Costa campaign, possibly for the next 2 or 3 years, or until public attitude to the dumping of litter changes. The Los Verdes Working Group in Orihuela Costa is at this time preparing the launch, at the beginning of September 2008 of the second part of the ongoing campaign.

Elliot Sampford,
English Spokesman - Orihuela Costa,

[Doublet2]

Why don't you start a self help group instead of waiting of someone else to do your dirty work (sorry about the pun ) lol

[J J]

If the residents here pay their rates, why should they clean it up and save the council a job?

[Scorpio]

Well I must say, if I lived there I would get off me fat bum and clean it myself. All to do with pride I guess.

[Ellsam]

If the residents here pay their rates, why should they clean it up and save the council a job?

Why don't you start a self help group instead of waiting of someone else to do your dirty work (sorry about the pun ) lol

Thank you for your comments. I would make these observations for consideration.

Where does litter come from? - It doesn't come from the Council!

We need to stop it being dropped or dumped in the first place.

It is the responsibility of everyone to reduce the amount of litter. The Council has an obligation and the Residents & Visitors as well.

As a result of the first part of the 'Clean up the Costa' campaign we have seen that the Council were made to take action to start the clean up of public areas. We have to continually remind them of their responsiblity where they are failing.

Doublet2 - Watch out for the news and annoucement of part two the campaign referred to in the final sentence of my original posting; on this forum, in the press, and the campaign blog.

Elliot Sampford.

[Doublet2]

I agree with your argument, butttttttttttttt this is Spain not the nanny UK if as a group you want something doing, mobilise your groups and get it done. It is your own area and you want to protect your investment I presume........................................ so get the brushes, litter pickers, spades, rubber gloves stop protesting and get it done. The Spanish already think us Brits are dirty, lazy, and think others should sort out our problems....Don't prove it to them, get of your butts and get it sorted.

[wendetg]

I appreciate how frustrating it is that the council are not taking action (we are talking about Spain though!) but surely it would be reasonably simple for a group of you to get together, tidy up the area and perhaps put some plants in. It is true that if an area looks uncared for it tends to attract more rubbish but if someone starts to clean up I am sure that others would soon join in.
I used to live in Nerja on the Costa Del Sol and people could frequently be seen washing down the pavement and road in front of their property (as they do in many places across Europe first thing in the morning).

[Doublet2]

Well said wendetg I know it is frustrating for them, but the only way is self help. You can argue "we pay our dues" and yes probably they do, but this is Spain and the more you shout and scream and protest and all that stuff the more they will be ignored and simply be classed as those whinging brits. Simply get it cleaned and get on with your life. They must be wasting more energy trying to get someone else to clean it than they would doing it themselves.

[wendetg]

Apart from anything else, it's a good way of getting to know your neighbours, keeps you fit and shows you care about the area you live in. I think it is time we improved our image in Spain so that we do gain the respect of our Spanish neighbours.
The tendency to sit back and wait for someone else to do it, because 'it's their job' does seem to be common amongst the British people. I work in an FE college and have asked students to pick up their rubbish only to be told that 'it's the cleaners' job'!

[Chrisdee]

Lucky the kids only told you(wendetg) its the cleaners job and didn't knife you, that seems the norm these days. It is frustrating as we have selfish people where I live too who just throw their dog poo over the wall and into the green area it's a 2 second walk to the bin! I just don't understand what goes on in their mind. Mind you, they have the courtesy to put it into a Mercadona bag.

[wendetg]

Fortunately we have yet to have a problem with knives at our college (so far as we know) although I have got to the point where very little shocks me anymore!
I work mainly with learners who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities and mostly they are lovely so I am lucky in that respect.
However. lovely though they are, I am looking forward to a month off and some sun, sea and sangria!

[Ellsam]

I agree with your argument, butttttttttttttt this is Spain not the nanny UK if as a group you want something doing, mobilise your groups and get it done. It is your own area and you want to protect your investment I presume........................................ so get the brushes, litter pickers, spades, rubber gloves stop protesting and get it done. The Spanish already think us Brits are dirty, lazy, and think others should sort out our problems....Don't prove it to them, get of your butts and get it sorted.

Well said wendetg I know it is frustrating for them, but the only way is self help. You can argue "we pay our dues" and yes probably they do, but this is Spain and the more you shout and scream and protest and all that stuff the more they will be ignored and simply be classed as those whinging brits. Simply get it cleaned and get on with your life. They must be wasting more energy trying to get someone else to clean it than they would doing it themselves.

I have noted your comments and advice given in your posts on this topic with interest.

From the assumptions you appear to have made when expressing your opinions, I wonder whether you are aware of, or familiar with, the progress to date of the ’Clean up the Costa’ campaign; or have knowledge of the work of Los Verdes de Orihuela. I would suggest, if I may, that you have a look at the ’Clean up the Costa’ campaign Blog, and the ‘Los Verdes in Orihuela Costa’ Blog, if you haven‘t already. Perhaps then you will appreciate that we do get off our butts and get things sorted. A further point I would like to bring to your attention is that the vast majority of the local members and supporters of Los Verdes de Orihuela are in fact Spanish, and not "whinging brits"!

Our duty as the third largest elected political party in the Orihuela Municipality is to represent and fight for the interests of the electorate as a whole and to try to protect and enhance the quality of their lives within the environment that we all live. Your presumption that we want to protect our investment would be correct if you are referring to the natural environment, but I don’t believe you meant that. This topic was posted as a result of a concern expressed by a Resident of Orihuela Costa of the failure of the Ayuntamiento.

On a personal note, yes I do clean up my local area, probably to some amusement of my neighbours, as do other local members of Los Verdes for their local area.

Perhaps, if you are resident in Orihuela Costa, you would like to come to the next party surgery on the 16th July 2008 to discuss this problem further and we can make a note of any further suggestions you may have to help ‘Clean up the Costa’.

Elliot Sampford,
English Spokesman - Orihuela Costa,
Los Verdes de Orihuela

Note to Moderator: I am aware of your instruction not to make reference to, or include a link to, the above Blogs in my postings but I believe it is justified in this reply, and hope you will allow it on this occasion.

[Doublet2]

Words are great, actions even better, my view is that if you wait to have the place cleaned...............how long have you waited now??? you will wait forever. I retired from a senior position in the UK waste management industry recently and would be only to happy to come along to one of your meetings and offer my view. Not sure my view is what you, or your group would want to hear. When I mentioned investment I was not only referring to the financial aspect but the environmental impact on your area if your group actually started to clean the area. rather than talk so much about it.

[Ellsam]

I appreciate how frustrating it is that the council are not taking action (we are talking about Spain though!) but surely it would be reasonably simple for a group of you to get together, tidy up the area and perhaps put some plants in. It is true that if an area looks uncared for it tends to attract more rubbish but if someone starts to clean up I am sure that others would soon join in.
I used to live in Nerja on the Costa Del Sol and people could frequently be seen washing down the pavement and road in front of their property (as they do in many places across Europe first thing in the morning).

I agree with your comments and I feel sure that you will see when part two of the ‘Clean up the Costa’ campaign is launched and published, that this aspect is covered.

Apart from anything else, it's a good way of getting to know your neighbours, keeps you fit and shows you care about the area you live in. I think it is time we improved our image in Spain so that we do gain the respect of our Spanish neighbours.
The tendency to sit back and wait for someone else to do it, because 'it's their job' does seem to be common amongst the British people. I work in an FE college and have asked students to pick up their rubbish only to be told that 'it's the cleaners' job'!

The problem of litter and fly-tipping is not one that originates only from the British, be they Expats or visitors. There is no nationality that can claim immunity from the accusation of litter louts. I personally have seen many different nationals openly dropping litter. The same can be said of “it’s their job” attitude, it’s not purely a British trait, our Spanish, and other nationality neighbours all have a propensity to suffer it.

Elliot Sampford

[Chrisdee]

Clean up Orihuela Costa

Get the council to adopt the Singapore policy. If they drop litter and get caught, flog um. If you've been to Singapore you would have noticed you do not see litter or those horrible little chewing gum marks, you would definitely not see dog poo.