Congratulations to Newham Council for the bold new posters depicting littering in action and the consequences for those who casually abuse public spaces in this way. This assertive approach to tackling litter means the council is actually listening to residents who are fed up of seeing old clothes draped on walls and abandoned mattresses blighting our residential streets. So what about our local retail zones?

Could the council also use strong messages to deter retailers from sneakily dumping commercial waste on corners near to their shops after hours? Now I’m not referring to legitimate commercial waste, placed in the right spot for timed collections; it’s the illegal piles of card board, bags of chicken skin and grime that negates the councils’ effort to improve our shopping experience by investing in our local high streets.

Although this sneaky dumping might seem harmless; it becomes a real problem when others start adding to the piles, which soon grow into rubbish mountains at almost every corner of our high streets.

To be fair, I believe that most retailers take pride in our high streets and responsibly manage their commercial waste. However it is apparent that some don’t really care or realise the role that pleasant retail surroundings play in creating the appetite for increased spending. So what’s the solution?

Because some retailers might not understand the consequences of mismanaging their commercial waste, maybe it’s time for the council to publish stern reminders that we want to spend our money in clean, tidy local high streets. I think it’s worth a try.

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