Members of Margate Women’s Institute are calling on Thanet councillors to transform Tivoli Park into a treat rather than a trick for families this Halloween.
Since May, the group has met regularly to pick up litter in and around the green spaces of Margate.
Members were left stunned by the amount of rubbish in Tivoli, prompting them to organise two sessions to try and clear it up.
The local WI’s first visit in August resulted in them clearing the steps to Sanger Close of broken glass and dog mess bags, as well as removing shredded drinks cans found buried in the grass near the mini football pitch.
On their return visit to the green space on Sunday 1 October, nine members from the group collected 22 bin bags of rubbish as well as suitcases, prams and large pieces of plastic from the verges surrounding the footpath, leading from the play area, under the railway bridge towards Tivoli Park Avenue.
The session was held on the same day that new laws regarding single-use plastic were introduced in England.
More bins needed
Margate WI committee member, Mandy Jarvis, who organises the litter picks, said: “While it was heartening to know that steps are being taken to reduce the amount of plastic waste which enters the environment across our country, our litter pick at Tivoli was a reminder of how much rubbish is sadly already there, and likely to remain unless we make the effort to clear it.
“Unfortunately Tivoli doesn’t seem to have enough bins. The area could be improved if bins were more readily available. We found just one by the play area.
“There weren’t any in the area which runs alongside Tivoli Park Avenue, just lots of litter. Other parks in Thanet have many rubbish and dog mess bins which cover smaller areas.
“Ultimately people should not drop litter and there is no excuse for it, but we are asking Thanet District Council to consider installing more bins in this area and encourage people to play their part in keeping Tivoli tidy.”
Hoping to get their message across, members of Margate WI have written to councillors to ask for help. Included with the letters are specially-made crocheted pumpkins, which have two faces. One side has a happy face and the other side features a scarier Jack-o-lantern expression, expressing the message act now to stop Tivoli turning into a horror story for families.
Mandy added: “We hope that our local councillors will understand and will not play trick or treat with the state of Tivoli play area. Install more bins and help keep Margate tidy.”
Deputy council leader Helen Whitehead posted to facebook to show off her crocheted pumpkin and said: “Councillor Albon will be requesting more bins for Tivoli next week; more public waste bins will be appearing across Thanet as we replace the dog waste bins that were removed with general waste bins, but we’re more than happy to specifically look at both the number and positioning of bins in Tivoli.”
