A COUNCILLOR has vowed to “explore all avenues” to force landowners to clear rubbish from under a railway bridge used by children on their way to school.
Coun Gambba-Jones, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for waste management, has accused Network Rail, who own the land to the sides of the bridge between Spalding’s Green Lane and St John’s Road, of “failing both the community and the environment”by allowing old settees and piles of discarded beer cans to accumulate for more than two years.
He made his promise after the Lincolnshire Free Press was contacted by one angry father “disgusted” at the state of the bridge which he uses to walk his six-year-old daughter to nearby St John’s School.
Jon Coupland, who lives in Green Lane just yards from the bridge, said: “It’s disgusting and it’s been like it for two years.
“I’ve complained to the council but it’s still there and something needs to be done.
“It makes Spalding look like a tip.”
However, the council says there has been previous dialogue about the problem and Network Rail is aware of its obligations to clear the site as it owns the land.
Coun Gambba-Jones said: “I will be exploring all avenues to address this issues, including advice from the Council for the Protection of Rural England regarding the use of litter abatement orders that can be used as a last resort when dealing with public companies that are failing both the community and the environment.”
A spokesman for Network said the last report of litter at the bridge was in 2007 when action was taken to ensure it was quickly removed and urged anyone with information about fly-tipping on railway land to contact a national helpline on 08457 114141.