Madam,

Reading today of the on-the-spot fines that can be issued to litter louts by beach wardens brings to mind a simple idea and I don’t know why has it not been implemented sooner.

We are all in favour of any/all measures which end this horrible, menacing scourge.

Recently the Blue Planet film threw everything into sharp relief but the misery and the torments of this problem have been evident for long enough.

Education will still play a vital role in moving forward, but (although I’m not at all sure if this would be allowed) a rogues’ gallery of the perpetrators on local noticeboards would send out a strong message that A) rotten behaviour will not tolerated and B) hitting in the pocket does work.

Years ago, both during the war years and following, there was no such thing as waste. Everything had another purpose and another life. Recycling is nothing newfangled, rest assured.

The ingenuity and imagination engendered with everything handled, passed on, bought for pennies, at a church/garage sale would fascinate any craft group now, without doubt.

I admire all the voluntary work in progress, both inland as well as on the beaches and sand dunes, to clear the litter scattered, but we cannot deny the reasons for its growth and profligacy.

The “troubles” in Ireland saw public waste bins and collection points dwindle, and the fears over bombings and vicious crimes finished off the plentiful wastebins in bus stations, railway stations, play areas and parks.

Overnight, thereafter, fly-tipping grew apace everywhere, as did half-pavement car parking.

After that, bad habits, poor hygiene and lax measures prevailed and no-one seemed to notice much.

There is no denying, plastic plays a major role in the lives of all of us, every day.

I resent being lambasted for using plastic bags when nothing else is on offer. String bags have gone, so have brown paper bags, and hessian shoppers are not heard of anymore.

The same applies (so far) with we -wipes and cotton buds. Manufacturers will be loathe to lose revenue and no-one will go back to damp face cloths in oil-skin bags anymore, on days out, and so forth.

Making us feel criminals for living in the 21st century is no way forward.

We are fully aware of not wanting to live in a barren, wasted land, and a healthier future, both for ourselves and wildlife, must surely concentrate the minds of all of us.

Yours etc,

Jill Baxter, Abergynolwyn.

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