A CRACKDOWN on pupils dropping litter has been promised after fed up residents dumped four bags of rubbish at the entrance to Saddleworth School.
Teachers who smoke have also been told to act responsibility when discarding cigarette butts.
The action follows complaints from Carole and Geoff Kenworthy who picked the litter from a footpath leading from the school to the bus turning circle on Uppermill High Street.
They also removed waste from and around a pond, previously part of Kenworthy Mill, and now used by the school as an angling facility.
In a letter to headteacher Matthew Milburn, the couple wrote: “We have previously brought this issue to the school’s attention over the phone and was old there was no evidence that the rubbish belonged to the pupils.
“There is absolutely no question the rubbish belongs to the pupils from your school: hundreds of plastic bottles, crisp packets, sweet wrappers, calculators, glue sticks, whiteboard pens, handwriting pens, rulers and cans.
“We have spent hours clearing the area, not just because it is so unsightly but because we are concerned for the welfare of the animals and their habitat.
“We find it hard to believe that in an age where we are working so very hard to reduce waste and our plastic usage that pupils are not better aware of their impact on the environment.
“Maybe a visual reminder of emptying rubbish in front of the children in an assembly would motivate them more to make the correct choices.”
Mrs Kenworthy continued: “There is one other matter regarding rubbish and sadly it is concerning your staff.
“I feel they are not setting a good example to the pupils.
“They are seen several times a day smoking cigarettes and putting them out on the floor, leaving them behind at the top of steps right across from the main entrance to the school.”
Since their letter and contact by the Independent Saddleworth School headteacher Matthew Milburn has written to apologise to Mr and Mrs Kenworthy for the state of the path and invited them to come into school so agree a long-term solution.
He said: “Littering is unacceptable in any context and unfortunately a big problem in society.
“Saddleworth School does not own the footpath that runs from the school to the bus turnaround, (although our pupils obviously use it) it’s a public right of way and we are investigating with Oldham Council if there is a way in which it can be better maintained.
“Mr Madden who works with a group of pupils who undertake environmental projects, has undertaken to clear the area and I have spoken to the staff at school who use the path when they smoke to dispose of any rubbish in a responsible and appropriate manner.
“We hold regular assemblies regarding litter. Pupils are told that if they are seen dropping litter then they will be placed in detention whereby they work with the site team to clean up at the end of the school day.
“The actual school site is generally litter free given that nearly 1,500 people use it every day.
“If children are standing next to litter they are asked to pick it up and refusal to do so also results in a litter detention.”
An OMBC spokesperson said: “The path is in school’s ground so it would fall under its responsibility.
“The pond is council-owned and is understood to be used by the school for various projects including an angling club.
“When an issue is raised about the pond, mainly from the school, we do carry out work.
“We will continue to monitor the area.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.