Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
They shoud pay some local people to clean the river periodically. That would include weeding too.
But they don't.
So I don't even bother getting involved in the topic of a littered river. I offered my services once, they said volunteers do it.
Then let volunteers do it!
When I go shopping, I don't get it for free, and people who work usually get paid for it.
Best of luck, Roger
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
The problem of rubbish is endemic. The British are quite simply a dirty people who are accustomed to dropping their detritus wherever they happen to be. I hear it all the time from tourists and visitors. Not for us the squeaky clean streets of Holland or Japan. The present generation are a lost cause, possibly schools could drum the "bin it" ethos into their pupils and future inhabitants might see an improvement in succeeding generations. However, we need a solution for today.
It is sad that the river is in this state so one wonders what practical steps can be taken given that any idea of the council employing River Wardens can be ruled out. The EA, WCCP, etc, cannot be expected to deal with this perpetual problem of weed and rubbish. The estimable volunteers who turn up once a month and clear little stretches are to be heartily commended but the stuff needs clearing daily along as much of the length as possible.
What is the best way of getting rid of the vegetation? Are we allowed to or would the EA say it is performing some sort of environmental benefit? Would I be right in saying that if all this weed were gone then there would be nothing to trap the rubbish and it would flow down to the trap near the Bubbles, with any residual items lodging against the banks being available for collection manually?
Would some sort of floating shallow draft mower be the answer, chopping the weed into tiny particles to be carried away downstream and away to the sea? I am thinking along the lines of something resembling a radio controlled miniature Mississippi river boat with the stern wheel composed of rapidly rotating lawn mower blades dessicating the weed into something resembling mint sauce. Or possibly a catamaran with an underwater jet sucking the weed through a macerator. I don't think it beyond the realm of possibility that I have the necessary skills to construct such a beast.
I know it sounds like fantasy but I have a reason for asking as my relatives have just moved into a riverside property and the river is covered in weed and rubbish, plus a rat appeared to greet them on their first day! Perhaps Croc could supply some answers, although I know that he is war weary and has heard it all before.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
ian,dont worry you have answerd all my questions,untill next time.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The EA always say there needs to be the weed to support bio-diversity. No one has a problem with SOME plants, it's the fact that it is far too much of it and it needs serious thinning out, but, as has been stated, only the EA can do that and they are not doing that.
When the river walk and cycle path is finished, more people will be able to see what a mess it is in; surely the river should be worked on now, so that more people can be proud of and enjoy the river, not see it as a floating tip.
If the EA took their responsibility seriously they would not leave the river in such a state; they know how quick these weeds grow (they should), they ought be here thinning it out.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
great picture ray.
some interesting comments and ideas, however i think we all know that if photos are taken in a years time they will look broadly similar to the ones in this thread.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Nice pic Ray.
Over the years Ed I have come up with some excellent ideas, litter traps included and the RDSG at the time thought my ideas should be looked into. Nothing ever came of them.
We even had a Professor Bolass, an expert in rivers and water ways who also gave some fantastic ideas including riffles and weirs along the course of the river, he also wrote a report that was some 30 pages long with diagrams and pictures of how the river could look.
I recycled it last year.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
Barton path over the last few weeks has been hammered with fishing, one chap the other night must have caught at least a dozen large trout.
The kids soon get bored and then get up to all sorts, if they can't catch them normally they will resort to this type of tactic
Trying to foul hook them with this kind of lure that is meant for Perch or Pike fishing.
Very soon this stretch of the river will be trout less
.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Hope you had planning permission Ian otherwise the council will be round telling you to knock it down.
You can always rely on the planning dept to muck things up...DTIZ being a perfect example.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
photos not working again, will try later.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Ian yes we are having technical problems.
I had problems loading pictures lately too..and the main part of the frontpage isnt functioning, nor the central anchor page.
On the modelling thread I couldnt get that picture of the ship to upload this morning. Eventually it worked after I gave up and came back to it later after a cup of strong coffee. I am hoping it will be fixed...am relying on Chris T my man at the coalface to get round to it all shortly. He is the highly technical bod around here.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
This photo belongs to post #27.
This was pulled out of a tree at the bottom of the garden with about 25mtr of line trailing in the river.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
have to resurrect this thread, these two shots are of the river between the "lord nelson" and the "light of india" restaurant.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
On my way to work this morning I saw a beer casket/ barrel was in the river by Morrisons together with even more rubbish than usual on the slipway and in the reeds near the entrance to the car park that was not there on Tuesday. Fly tipping??????????
By the way the white iron is still in the water by Charlton Centre car park but does not showing up so well as it is slowly turning green.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Good grief Howard those recnet two pictures are frightening...they look like shots of a cesspit. Something really needs to be done.
Jan yes everything eventually gets the veneer of nature.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
I do hope it does not get a mate then.
I doubt the barrel will be there for long, they are valuable enough to get your feet wet.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
ian
i am turning into a cross between you and roger, i keep saying i will not harp on about the litter in the streets, alleys and river and lack of bins, then i just harp on again.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Next WCCP Dour clean: Wednesday 6th July
MEET: 9.30am Folkestone, 9.40am Wingate Road, 10.00am Dover or 10.15am at: Morrison's car park, Charlton Green, Dover
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Phil, if the barrel is still there make sure you claim it and use the money to boost your volunteer funds.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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and cant be desturbed untill the end of the breeding season in september. 