Evenwood deep clean is welcomed but 'more enforcement needed'

GRASS verges and litter hotspots have been given a good going over as part of a county clean-up scheme.
Children from Evenwood Primary School teamed with Durham County Council’s Green and Clean Team to plant flowers and pick up litter around their village.
Bollards, railings and footpaths were given a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint while graffiti on bins was also scrubbed off.  New signs were also erected warning motorists of £80 fines for hurling detritus from their windows.
The trip to Evenwood will last until this week as part of the county council’s scheme to 14 areas.
Chris Hindmarch, from the county council, said certain issues such as flytipping were more marked in rural areas.
He added: “I think it’s important areas like this get covered – sometimes areas like this feel they are a bit more neglected.”
Litter louts and flytippers have proven problematic in Evenwood with two instances of rubbish being dumped in woodland near the doctor’s surgery the previous week.
Mr Hindmarch said catching and prosecuting flytippers could be difficult.
He added: “It's very difficult to tackle – you put cameras in but you have issues with private property.
“You’ve got areas that are hotspots where cameras have to be put in the right position so it’s an incredibly hard thing to do.”
Oliver Sherratt, the county council’s head of direct services, said education was the key to keeping the county tidy.
He added: “What we are really pleased about is that it often involves schools, Scouts and local businesses.
“It’s really helpful to use and to have that collective effort because not only does it mean you can get the place more spick and span but you can foster and engender that sense of pride.
“So we’re really pleased to come to Teesdale and give the place a spruce up.”
Mr Sherratt said the county council would be seeking to “revive” the programme at the end of the year.
Cllr Barbara Nicholson, chairwoman of Evenwood Parish Council, welcomed the deep clean. But she added: “Now the cynics among us will probably say that these are mandatory issues that Durham County Council should be doing anyway.
“However, some of the aesthetic issues are to be welcomed and are very positive.  I am sure we will all see an improvement. We deserve it.
“Getting the schools involved is a major part of their campaign, but what will happen when Tidy Ted goes home? Putting up fixed penalty notices will not work without some kind of enforcement. Who is going to report litter thrown from a vehicle? 
“Also the amount of litter we are experiencing daily will continue unless these fines are seen to work.
“The dog fouling will continue for much the same reason. The idiot who allows their dog to foul outside the church gates, or the local schools or even the village green where children play – are they going to take any notice of a notice?”