Rubbish on the riverbank

Many of us will have seen gangs of teanagers roaming around the village last evening, and this morning the consequences are all too obvious!

I have just returned from walking my dog around the river loop from the bottom of Mill Lane acroos the public footpath to the river. There is stream of litter left from parties; bottles, cans food wrapers, polythene bags, and in the adjoining field a heap of rubbish of the same stuff. Several black bin bags worth. It continues oposite Val Wyatt's boatyard.

These fields are not public land, they are used to grow crops for food and feed cattle, and before farmer Stephen Doble can use them again he will have to clear up the refuse to prevent the cattle eating it! This is not fair and not acceptable behaviour and the parents of the children should take note and stop it happening.

In addition the safety handrail on the bridge over the marsh area close to the railway line at the bottom of Chapel Lane has been smashed down, I suspect by the same group, rendering the bridge a safety hazzard.

Julian Morse.

Posted by: Julian Morse | 24/06/2022 9:35 am

Roger, thank you for logging your report. I will follow this up with the OCC National Trails Officer.

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 27/06/2022 8:43 am

Ref. the footbridge and broken handrail I have reported this on the County Council Countryside Access website and emailed the team responsible for the Thames Path. There's another foot bridge more or less opposite the sailing club where the handrails are completely rotten and about to fall over - so have reported those as urgent as well. Will continue to chase and hope to get someone there soon. Also just trimmed round the gates and bridges to get rid of the nettles/ brambles. Thx, Roger.

Posted by: Roger Smith | 26/06/2022 4:56 pm

Thank you all for your help. In addition to the rubbish, our fences have been cut, cattle have been chased and their water supply was vandalised during the heat wave. The police are aware of the problem and have committed to visiting the river bank during the afternoon. I am really grateful to people ringing me when the problem occurs but it would be even better if they report it to the police so that the matter is given more priority.

Posted by: Stephen Doble | 24/06/2022 11:59 am

The SODC litter mapping project may help here. Please check out https://www.southoxon.gov.Uk/south-Oxfordshire-district-council/recycling-rubbish-and-waste/our-litter-mapping-project/. It is apparently intended to register where the community is having to do the clear up, and to help keep areas cleaner for longer. Does seem to be biased to non-rural locations. If anyone has any idea of things that would help the situation please let the parish council know.

Posted by: Joanne Stone | 24/06/2022 11:45 am

Stephen does so much extra for the community it is a shame this is happening. If these are teenagers from outside the village who are coming by train from Wargrave/Twyford then it should be noted as a potential consequence for the next occasion that the idea of a footbridge across surfaces. Can I suggest that this info is somehow recorded on the SODC litter mapping project so that the efforts of Stephen and others in repeatedly clearing this nuisance can be noted with SODC.

Posted by: Joanne Stone | 24/06/2022 11:32 am

I also noticed all the teenagers last night & saw the damage & litter along the river. However you are preaching to the converted here as these were not children from Shiplake - I saw many of them arrive by train from Twyford or Wargrave.

Posted by: Emma Hillier | 24/06/2022 10:48 am

As it happened David Bartholomew (SODC District Councillor) was in the area when Dave Ramm was there and knows about this graffiti - which is also evident on the control boxes by Shiplake Station crossing. Last night around 1100pm I noted about a dozen youths at the Station messing about. What to do?!

Posted by: Christopher Nash | 24/06/2022 10:16 am

It is distressing to read your note about the rubbish left once again by the river bank. Last week I also noted a mass of litter left opposite Val Wyatt. I mentioned this to Stephen Doble and together with help from a resident this was cleared. I let Shiplake Parish Council know of Stephen's actions. Earlier this week graffiti was sprayed on the Lashbrook information panel and on the bench by the railway viaduct. Dave Ramm who installed these items has partially cleared it.

Posted by: Christopher Nash | 24/06/2022 10:12 am