I WAS delighted to see the exclusive article by Mike Sims about dirty Andover.

Regrettably, the problem of litter does not just apply to Andover, it exists all across the Test Valley villages and on the roads that cross the borough.

It seems that many people think it is acceptable behaviour to throw litter out of their car window or to drive into the country and fly tip waste almost anywhere.

I just cannot understand the need to fly tip when we have an excellent facility on the Walworth Estate, albeit with recently slightly reduced opening hours.

The verges of the A34 and A303, particularly at junctions, are a disgrace and an embarrassment – how do you explain to visitors from abroad why we allow this to happen? Although I am pleased to see that litter picking squads from Hampshire and/or TVBC are now deployed fighting the problem. Well done the councils and the crews.

Within my own village of Abbotts Ann, we used to have a village litter pick, sponsored by the parish council, over the Easter weekend.

It was always a great success and widely supported with villagers collecting many black bags of rubbish from verges, woodlands and public areas.

Regrettably, the parish council has been unable to stir themselves into action in recent years and the litter just accumulates – perhaps they would rather talk about the problem than act to do something about it?

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