A FURIOUS district councillor has slammed vandals who have torn down signs close to the town’s Morrisons which encouraged local residents to use litter bins and discourage shoppers from abandoning their trolleys on Charity Crescent.
Coun Gerry O’Donnell, who represents Little Hampton on Wychvaon District Council, spoke out after the mindless acts and vowed the town’s thriving Anti Litter Group would not be deterred in replacing the signs in a bid to continue their efforts to Keep Evesham Tidy and improve the local area for residents.
Speaking to the Observer, Coun O’Donnell said the signs were put up a number of weeks ago after their regular litter picks identified the area around Charity Crescent as a particular litter hot spot.
Signs to ask shoppers to return their trolleys to the store were put up at the same time to tackle the common apperance of discarded trolleys on the road.
“It’s a common occurrence on Charity Crescent and normally trolleys are to be found in the same spot, giving rise to suspicions that it is the same few persons responsible,” Coun O’Donnell said.
“I never understand why trolleys are taken in the first place, especially by people living so close to the store but having taken them, it is surely no great effort to return them!”
“I can only put it down to laziness and lack of respect for the neighbourhood and the community,” he added.
Coun O’Donnell questioned the motives of those responsible for the vandalism and vowed the work of the group would continue despite their acts.
“Is it lack of respect again, or a complete failure to grasp what a blight on the community abandoned trolleys are?” Coun O’Donnell said.
“If it is a swipe at our Anti Litter Group and its aims, then I feel sorry that this is the only way the offenders feel they can express themselves, rather than intelligent dialogue.
“Luckily, there are more residents who care than those who don’t,” he added
A Morrisons spokesman said: ‘We put our trust in the public and hope people will not take trolleys from the store. Where trolleys are abandoned, we are asking customers to let us know so that we can collect them.”
