Jessie Pullin in his speech to councillors at Solihull Council. (Image: Copyright Unknown)

'Overflowing bins make me sad' nine-year-old in plea to Solihull councillors

'Stop Shirley Park littering' boy tells councillors

16 Oct 2024, 15:13 by Sam Greenway, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/sam-greenway/ · Birmingham Live

A nine-year-old has made a passionate plea to Solihull councillors for action to be taken to stop litter at his local park. Jessie Pullin was applauded by councillors when he spoke in front of a full council meeting at Solihull Council.

A senior councillor has vowed to look into the issue following the youngster’s formal deputation about the issue. After being introduced by the mayor, Jessie said: “I have come to talk to you about the state of my local area, in particular Shirley Park.

“I walk through the park every day on my way to school and the first thing I see is rubbish. That makes me angry and sad at the same time.

“Angry because I do my own litter picks to keep the park clean but when I come back the next day it is like I had never been. Sad because all of the rubbish won't decompose for a long time and by the time it does, who knows what damage it could have done.

“Having a new puppy I know how dangerous rubbish can be for animals. Because a lot of litter comes from overflowing bins I think you should either put more bins around the park; add more bins that don’t let litter out of them so easily or empty the existing bins more regularly.

“When I see bins overflowing it makes me and a lot of people feel like you don’t care. And if you don’t care, why should I or my friends?

(Image: Copyright Unknown)

“If we don’t care, nothing in the future is going to change.” Responding, Councillor Ken Hawkins, the cabinet portfolio holder for environment and infrastructure, said: “Jessie well done.

“I don’t want to sound condescending, to come here and do that. Thanks for being part of the litter picking.

“It is sad for everybody. I could come up with excuses why sometimes the bins are like that. Sometimes people will have parties and overflow the bins.

“But we must look at how often the bins need to be emptied. In some parts it might not need to be emptied so often - Shirley Park might need to be more often.

Volunteers at the Friends of Shirley Park event, pictured from left are Emma McGann, Cllr Rosemary Sexton, Cllr Karen Grinsell, Ryan Hardware, aged 12, Leason Foster, ten, and Lee Hughes. (Image: David Irwin)

“I think at Shirley Park there is one 'belly bin' which takes a lot of waste. They are expensive. Perhaps that’s the answer, we need more.

“I will have officers monitor the situation in relation to all bins especially in Shirley Park and I will get them to write to you.” In the past the Local Democracy Reporting Service has been out with litter picking group Friends of Shirley Park.

Their volunteers highlighted laughing gas canisters, cigarette ends, old car batteries and shopping carts have been among the items they had found during litter picks. The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on October 8.

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