Bath city centre has been labelled a “disgrace” by a new resident looking at the city with “fresh eyes.”

David Salter, who has recently moved to Bath, said he is “constantly amazed how dirty the streets are.”

Bath Live launched our Clean Up Bath campaign this week - to find solutions to litter issues in the city centre and parks.

Mr Salter is one of numerous residents who have been in touch since.

He has been disappointed by the seeming lack of care taken over the city’s appearance.

This photo of Victoria Park taken over Easter weekend shows Bath's persisting litter problem
This photo of Victoria Park taken over Easter weekend shows Bath's persisting litter problem

He said: “We only moved to Bath quite recently, so have very fresh eyes when looking at the city.

“Frankly we think the whole of the inner city is a disgrace, when one considers it is one of the very few World Heritage Cities in Britain.”

“We have spent many hours walking around the city, but are constantly amazed at how dirty the streets are, with pavements and kerbsides full of weeds and dead leaves blocking up drains.

“Black bin bags sit outside some of the lovely houses, giving a terrible appearance to the streets concerned.

“Traffic islands that have flower beds are totally unkempt, and just left for weeds to take over.”

The Clean Up Bath logo
The Clean Up Bath logo

“We happened to go to Wells last week. Believe it or not we saw two ladies with dust pans and brushes sweeping up the kerbside of rubbish, and children, under their teacher's supervision, picking up litter,” he said.

“Their flowers beds are all beautifully maintained.

“Someone takes a real pride in managing the Wells situation. Why not find out who, and take a leaf out of their book.”

Vandals get a kick out of launching bags of rubbish down Bath street

“It is high time that the city's litter problem, and general cleanliness, is addressed, and hopefully your bringing it to the fore again might generate some really urgent action being taken.”

“Everyone knows about the litter problem. An immediate plan to put it right is what is wanted now.

“There is no need for further committee meetings, enquiries, consultations, investigations.”

Traders claim that they are frequently left to clean up masses of left over rubbish
Traders claim that they are frequently left to clean up masses of left over rubbish

Everyone in Bath needs to take responsibility, Mr Salter says.

He believes businesses, who benefit from tourism, should contribute to keeping the streets clean.

He said: “As most companies are only too willing to support good charities it should be possible to devise some sort of scheme whereby they put some of their profit towards a 'Keep Bath Tidy' sort of scheme.”

“If it is handled correctly, and positive results are actually seen very quickly, such a scheme would go from strength to strength.”

Mr Salter believes the starting point is bigger bins, more of them and more frequent emptying.

“Bins are more often than not totally full,” he said.

“The priority surely is to make sure the bins are emptied, and more put in place.

“You can’t educate people to act responsibly regarding rubbish if the kit to put the rubbish is in inadequate.

“Why continue with bins with four holes in the sides, all of which are too small to put anything through, other than a newspaper, or similar. Larger bins are required and more of them.

“Has anyone looked into the underground rubbish collecting units found all over the towns and cities of Europe?

“Basically a hole in the road into which a container is put and then covered with bins and chutes that people put their rubbish into. The container then gets collected, when necessary, and replaced with a new one.”

Bin collection day in Combe Down
Bin collection day in Combe Down

But beyond the immediate issue of waste collection, Mr Salter wants to see Bath’s residents stepping up and doing all they can to help the city look its best.

He said: “The central city’s streets should have hanging baskets of flowers to add colour. With the right choice of flowers – petunia and geraniums – both look after themselves during the summer, providing they get water.

“Not too an onerous task for someone who loves flowers, and is prepared to plant out the wire baskets at the beginning of the season, and then water them.”

“Everyone has to be reminded that the city is unique in the world, and needs to be looked after, and cared for, accordingly,” he added.

Immediate actions suggested by Mr Salter

1) Provide more and bigger rubbish bins

2) Provide continental type underground rubbish units

3) Get black bin bags away from outside people's homes.

4) Clean up the pavements and kerb gutters of weeds and dead leaves etc

5) Hang up some wire flower baskets

Do you agree with Mr Salter or do you have your own take on the issue? Email news@bathchron.co.uk and put ‘Clean Up Bath’ in the subject line

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