I agree with Mr Cross and his plea for something to be done about the profusion of litter in Devizes. First and foremost it is a question of education while children are growing up and this responsibility falls to both parents and teachers. It clearly isn’t happening among a growing minority of families, some of whom have parents who throw bottles, wrappings, food containers and anything else they have finished with wherever they are, rather than taking their waste home. Apart from their laziness they set an awful example for their offspring.

Sadly education takes a generation to become effective, so until parents and teachers can be encouraged to train the next generation, I offer four suggestions to reverse the downward trend in our town.

First, all fast food establishments should pay a levy of 20p per cardboard cup or food container for those who eat out. Non-biodegradable boxes such as the orange ones that decorate our streets on Saturday and Sunday mornings should carry a further charge of 50p. The proceeds should be passed to the council to help fund the clean-up operation.

Secondly, this newspaper could have a weekly rogues gallery of litterbugs in action and especially those who do not clean up after their dogs. This happens in some other towns and since most of us have mobile phones, it is not difficult to record a littering or dog-fouling offence. Perhaps a reward could be offered for helping to convict or at least warn repeat offenders.

Thirdly, the council does not help matters by having so few bins on our streets. The Brittox, Market place and the area outside Sainsbury’s is well served, but there is only one bin in Long Street and that is hidden away up Morris Lane. Litter bins are less of a blot on the landscape than energy drink bottles, half-eaten meals and the other rubbish that festoons our streets. Also, it must be said that the cleaning services are woefully inadequate for the problem we have.

Finally, the community police officers could do more to instil a sense of right and wrong when they patrol our town centre streets.

Having only lived here for two- and-a-half years I have been struck by how much worse Devizes is with regard to litter and dog fouling than, for example, Hampshire. It is a particular shame that this lovely, historic town is let down by such a lackadaisical and selfish few who seemingly have no respect for their neighbours or their environment.

Chris Willows, Devizes.