COUNTY NEWS: Do we live in the '˜litter bin of England'?

A motorcyclist who found used nappies by a roadside has described Sussex as '˜the litter bin of England'.
Some of the rubbish that Hamish Neathercoat collected along Horsemere Green Lane in Climping SUS-170224-160440001Some of the rubbish that Hamish Neathercoat collected along Horsemere Green Lane in Climping SUS-170224-160440001
Some of the rubbish that Hamish Neathercoat collected along Horsemere Green Lane in Climping SUS-170224-160440001

Hamish Neathercoat, from Apple Tree Walk in Climping, was riding his motorbike in Horsemere Green Lane when his front wheel caught a beer can, causing him to almost fall off his bike.

He returned the following day to tidy the busy Climping road, and filled five large bin liners with rubbish. The contents included glass bottles, beer cans, fast food containers and used nappies, prompting him to describe the offenders as ‘dirty, inconsiderate and lazy people’.

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Mr Neathercoat regularly drove between Sussex and Scotland before moving to Climping in August 2015.

Hamish NeathercoatHamish Neathercoat
Hamish Neathercoat

As a result, he said: “I can honestly say that Sussex has become the litter bin of England.

“It would seem that it has become socially acceptable just to throw your litter out of your car window, or chuck what you can’t be bothered to take to the tip beside the road, or down some idyllic deserted country lane. I just don’t understand that mentality at all.”

Within the last three weeks, Mr Neathercoat has also reported instances of fly-tipping on the Crookthorn Lane stretch of the A259, an overflowing litter bin on Climping beach and a discarded McDonald’s cup in Climping Street.

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He praised the council for emptying the litter bin and clearing the waste on the A259 promptly, but said more fines should be imposed.

Hamish Neathercoat collected five bin liners full of rubbish along a 100-metre stretch of Horsemere Green Lane in ClimpingHamish Neathercoat collected five bin liners full of rubbish along a 100-metre stretch of Horsemere Green Lane in Climping
Hamish Neathercoat collected five bin liners full of rubbish along a 100-metre stretch of Horsemere Green Lane in Climping

An Arun spokesman said: “Arun District Council is working in partnership with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) on the issue of fly-tipping.

“We are closely monitoring all reported occurrences and where appropriate (not on private land) are working hard to clear sites as soon as possible. We are in the process of increasing the enforcement team to enable us to identify and deal with offenders quickly and effectively and, alongside WSCC, we will continue to monitor the situation.

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An overflowing bin in Climping BeachAn overflowing bin in Climping Beach
An overflowing bin in Climping Beach

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