The Observer last week featured a photo and short article on page 2 about Conservative candidates and their families picking up litter in Southgate wearing  blue tabards.

Putting aside the regular litter picking that twenty Crawley Borough Council staff routinely do, residents can inform the council about litter – perhaps most easily via the council website and clicking on ‘Tell Us. In my experience, this works well in getting the litter removed.

Many individual Crawley residents regularly spend time picking up litter and either recycling it in their red top bins or placing non-recycleable items into waste bins or their own black top bins. They do this unsung, without feeling the need to wear blue tabards or to send photographs to the local paper. I know that much of Rusper Road roadside is kept largely litter-free by a local resident, despite the regular top ups from passers-by, notably car users.