Bin could attract rubbish

A LITTER bin could attract more rubbish to a hot spot for crisp packets and cans of pop.

Parish councillors in Wedmore were considering buying a litter bin for the bus stop near the village first school, but decided against it after a county councillor urged them not to.

David Huxtable told members at a meeting of Wedmore Parish Council that litter bins were being removed from lorry lay-bys and other areas as they actually encourage people to drop more litter, rather than saving it to take home.

The news comes after the parish council received complaints about the amount of rubbish left by the bus stop by students going to the two secondary schools in the area, Hugh Sexey Middle School in Blackford and Fairlands Middle School in Cheddar.

Chairman John Sanderson said: "A lot of the rubbish in the village is from the youngsters. They buy sweets from the shops and chuck it everywhere. I think we need to write to the schools and ask them to mention the problem in class or in an assembly. I not sure whether it will have the right effect though."

The parish council had investigated the cost of a bin, but were told even a freestanding bin would cost around £165, which would then need a base to secure it to the ground.

Parish councillor Jessica Healey, who lives off Cheddar Road, said: "Litter is becoming a real problem in the village. We pick up a bag full of rubbish every week from the side of the road. Sedgemoor District Council empty the bin near my house every day and there is nothing in there. It gets thrown in fields and hedges instead."

Councillors said it wasn't the primary school children that caused the problems, but senior students travelling out of the village to get to school.

The parish council clerk will be sending a letter out to schools to ask them to stop students from littering.