'An absolute disgrace' - public speak out after five tonnes of rubbish removed from South Shields' seafront
Readers have said the amount of rubbish left at South Shields’ coastline over the bank holiday weekend was a “disgrace”.
People have hit out online after tonnes of litter was removed in a clean-up operation following a busy bank holiday weekend on South Shields seafront.
South Tyneside Council said five tonnes of rubbish was collected from seafront locations on Tuesday, May 26 after a heatwave where conditions reached 28°C coincided with the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
The warmest day came on Monday, June 25 when hundreds of groups flocked to beaches across the borough.
A huge council operation following the weekend drew praise from Gazette readers, while others remain frustrated by those causing the mess.
Commenting on social media, Sammy J Pascoe said the rubbish came: “from litter bins as well not just left on the beach. There's no need for anyone leaving stuff on the beach - there's plenty of bins. Its just laziness.”
Linda Pearson added: “Well done, shame people leave all that rubbish!”
Adding to the frustrated comments, Ann Elisabeth Brown said the state the beach was in was “a disgrace,”adding the beach was “spoiled for all” who use it.
Others who were at the beach throughout the day were also quick to comment on the state the coast was left in before teams started their clean up.
Darren Wood said: “We were down the beach ‘til late and couldn't believe the amount of rubbish people leave. It's an absolute disgrace. Bottles, cans, BBQs, towels, pizza boxes, you name it.”
He added: “It takes nothing to take some black bags and put your rubbish at the bins and have some respect for the place.”
Elsewhere across South Shields, organised events did not see the same issues according to Sandra Gallagher who said: “We were in Bents Park for the food festival, people were constantly walking around with black bags asking if we had any litter.
“We also put what we had left in the bins as we left. We didn't go on the beach, it was just too busy.”
The clean up came just two weeks after Sandhaven Beach received the Seaside Award from Keep Britain Tidy, a nationally recognised quality mark for beaches that are clean, safe, well maintained and meet the highest standards.