Burgess Hill family calls for action on tackling rubbish in town

Sarah Wilmot, 39, and her 12-year-old son Ethan, of Junction Road, contacted the Middy after picking up litter in their community to urge residents to take more responsibility.

Sarah said: “We walk around the town a lot and it seems everywhere you look there is discarded rubbish.

“If everyone took ten mins out of their day to take responsibility for their bit of space it would benefit everyone.”

Ethan said: “I’ve seen lots of wrappers and rubbish on my walk to school. People don’t care about throwing rubbish onto the floor. There are loads of bins around, sometimes rubbish is dumped even if a bin is right there.”

Sarah, who also lives with her husband Lee and eldest son Olly, took Ethan on a Junction Road litter-pick last Saturday to show him that helping the community can be fun – and they collected an entire black sack full of refuse.

Sarah added: “We have noticed a lot of overflowing bins which impacts the problem as the litter gets blown everywhere. Community bins too are a problem. If one is blown/knocked over no one seems to take responsibility, as it is communal no one wants to clear up.

“I would like to see more of a community interest, with help from the local council in providing equipment – particularly now as hedge rows are left to grow to benefit local habitats and to encourage bees. Rubbish gets blown/left in these places, which sort of contradicts helping the bees and wildlife.”

A Burgess Hill Town Council spokesperson said: “The Town Council applauds the efforts of the Wilmot family and would be happy to meet them and likeminded families or groups to discuss assistance. We do have litter pickers that we regularly lend out for litter picks.”