Litter-strewn beach sparks tidy-up plea

The pictures, taken by local photographer Gavin Stanfield, show empty disposable cups, milk bottles, and even dirty nappies scattered across the sand and Prom steps, close to Central Pier.

Gavin, who works at Its A Print Thing in Church Street, took the shots at around 9pm on Tuesday, and said: “I normally go to the beach to take pictures around twice a week, and I have been increasingly shocked about the amount of litter I see.

“So I turned my camera around to highlight the growing issue with litter.”

A spokesman for Blackpool Council said: “We’ve seen some images on Facebook showing a horrifying amount of litter on the beach.

“We’re as disappointed as everyone that some people come to the beach but don’t take their litter away with them or use the bins that are provided at every entry and exit point on to the beach – or the extra ones that have been placed out because the beach is so busy at the moment.

“Our staff are working hard every time the tide goes out to pick up litter and clean the beach and the steps so that it is as safe and clean as possible for everybody enjoying the beach.

“On a busy day however that is a relentless job, so we would ask everybody coming to the beach to please put their litter away in a bin when they leave, as well as joining in with the LOVEmyBEACH campaign to help keep all of Blackpool’s beaches as clean as possible.”

The stretch of beach at Blackpool South was named among the best in the world when it was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag last month, as reported in The Gazette.

The beach at Blackpool north, opposite the Tower, Blackpool central beach, and Bispham beach have also been given Seaside Award status.

Council chiefs are now thought to be considering a fresh crackdown on litterbugs on the back of Gavin’s pictures, which have been widely discussed online.

One resident, Diane Spence, described litter as one of her bugbears.

“There are bins and yet ignorant people still throw litter on the floor,” she said.

LOVEmyBEACH said a volunteer litter pick will be held from 10am next Sunday, starting at the lifeboat station opposite the Sealife Centre.