AFTER discovering a large amount of litter on Salisbury Road recreation ground, a man from Marlborough has spoken out about the way people treat the area.

Anthony Bavin, of Priors Field, Marlborough, was walking his dog on the Salisbury Road recreation ground when he spotted a large amount of rubbish that had been left strewn across the ground.

The public space, situated by the skate park, is owned by Marlborough Town Council and cleaners visit at least three times a week.

Mr Bavin said: “It has gone on for as long as I can remember. Surprisingly it is confined to one small area and all of it is next to the skate park. I was taking my dog down there one afternoon when I realised how much of a mess there was.

“There is a website for the council where you can submit issues with the area, in planning or other topics, I did that four months ago. It is just disgusting, it is also really quite worrying.”

People share concerns for litter in the town, with Marlborough Town Council stating that the issues are rare in the area as dedicated teams work hard to keep everything clean and tidy.

Shelley Parker, Marlborough Town Clerk, said: “Our Grounds Team takes a huge pride in looking after Town Council-owned areas of Marlborough. They regularly clear all of our open spaces, play areas, gardens, cemeteries and more. We want the town to look its best for residents and visitors.

“Wiltshire Council spends around £2.5m on litter picking around the county. So, less litter to pick up would mean more savings to spend on other public services. What would make it go away? It’s not just about providing additional bins, litter pickers and on the spot fines - only real behavioural change and personal responsibility will reduce it.”

The recreation ground, situated next to the youth centre, is an important asset to the town, with everyone pitching in to keep it clear. Earlier last month youth teams took part in the Clean for Queen initiative which saw people from across the county clean their areas to mark the Queen's upcoming birthday.

Mrs Parker added: "We have a fantastic relationship with the Marlborough Community Youth Group run by Lisa Farrell and Justin Cook who, with their young members, help us to keep the Rec and Skate park looking so good. They also, alongside our Youth Council, took part in the Clean for the Queen campaign in early March, a real community effort."