Bridport's mayor wants to tackle the litter in the town, and needs the help of the town's residents.

Councillor Ian Bark is regularly contacted by members of the community about issues of concern, and the highest on the list of issues raised is litter.

From a mass litter pick next month and picking up litter on walks to upgrading one of the roundabouts coming into Bridport, Cllr Bark is passionate about tidying up the town.

He said: "Whether it is on the walk into town from my home in Crock Lane or on the footpaths in the lovely hills that surround the town, I too have noticed an increase in the amount of litter.

"Given that for the past year, and in particular the last three months, there have been fewer visitors, the level of litter is surprisingly high.

"Whilst we do see an increase in the amount of litter during periods when visitor numbers are higher, I am afraid we need to face up to the fact that the problem of litter is with us all year round."

Cllr Bark thanked the town council maintenance team for keeping the town centre, play areas and parks litter free. He said that every morning, six men go round emptying all of the general waste and dog poo bins in these areas, plus any other litter they spot. In addition, they do additional litter sweeps after the weekly markets and other events.

He added: "I am sure you will agree they do a great job in keeping the centre of town and other public spaces tidy. Without them we would have an even greater problem.

"The roundabout that welcomes people to the town as they enter from Dorchester or Beaminster is not only an eyesore thanks to Highways England and their shoddy stewardship but is also turning into a litter tip.

"I know many of you are appalled by the state of the roundabout and the image it presents as we and our visitors approach the town."

The town council is trying to engage with Highways England about it and has offered design proposals for an upgrade. Cllr Bark is encouraging residents to contact Highways England in support of the town council's efforts.

Cllr Bark said: "Once the litter hits the streets, where does it go? Sadly, much of it will find its way into our rivers and on into the sea. Other things like crisp packets and plastic bottles in long grass and hedges will slowly degrade under sunlight and eventually become part of the ecosystem releasing the toxic chemicals that they are made from as they do so. What starts as visual pollution eventually becomes toxic environmental pollution."

Beach cleans are carried out regularly at West Bay, but Cllr Bark thinks it is now time to have a similar army of volunteers to remove the litter from the streets across the town.

He added: "Over the next few weeks, we need to recruit volunteers to become Bridport Litter Free Street Champions with the aim of achieving coverage for every street in town. I suspect there is already a small army of people out there who like me and my wife, quietly remove the litter from the immediate area around where they live.

"By my calculation, there are 137 streets in Bridport town from Acer Avenue to Yarn Mill Close. With a population of more than 7,000, raising an army of Bridport Litter Free Street Champions should be easily achievable."

On Sunday, May 30, a mass litter pick is planned to tackle the litter that has accumulated across town. The 'From Street to Sea' litter pick will cover the streets, the river and the beach. The Bridport Litter Free Street Champions will be joined by kayakers and paddle boarders who will cover the rivers and the West Bay beach clean volunteers who will tackle the beaches.

"I am hoping for a huge response from the people of Bridport.

"If you would like to become a Litter Free Street Champion for your street or take part in the From Street to Sea mass litter pick, please email [email protected] with your contact details to find out more."

For more information on the mayor's latest blog, visit Bridport-tc.gov.uk

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