COUNCILLORS have been told that littering in Wellington is becoming a real problem in the town and that something needs to be done about it.

Wellington Town Council met on Monday (April 7) and a member of the public suggested that the authority look at holding a big Litter Pick community event later in the year.

“We asked the council for a litter bin to be installed in our area a couple of years ago and nothing has happened,” he told councillors. “You could easily go out in our area and fill a black bin bag with litter, but I think there’s a problem throughout the town.

“Perhaps the town council could organise a big Litter Day in the autumn. The litter problem is becoming alarming.

“Perhaps the town council could put signs up asking people not to drop litter.”

The Mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, said some people just “didn’t bother” putting litter in bins.

The council’s chief executive and town clerk Dave Farrow said the issue would be looked at in more detail by the council’s environment committee.

Cllr Keith Wheatley said, however, that he did not think Wellington had a major problem with littering.

“I do a bit of walking and cycling in the town centre here and I don’t honestly see a lot of litter,” he said.

“I’d hate to see newspaper headlines making people think that we have a litter problem here in Wellington because I don’t actually think we do.”

It was suggested that perhaps teachers at local primary schools are asked to speak to children about littering in order to get the message home to society’s youngest members.

And Cllr Wheatley said it would be great if children then shouted “daddy don’t do that” if they saw their dad drop litter in the street.