Efforts to prevent future littering at Cobo

Saturday 12 May 2018

Following complaints about the rubbish left at Cobo after the sunny bank holiday weekend, Environment and Infrastructure has said it will work with businesses in the area to make sure there isn't a repeat of last weekend.

Express was told volunteers were still finding litter the day after the popular and free balcony gig, hosted by the Cobo Bay Hotel on Sunday 6 May.

The hotel itself had made its usual provision for clearing litter left behind by revellers who had soaked up the sun on the west coast for the day. The owners of the Cobo Bay Hotel, David and Julie Nussbaumer told Express they make every effort to clear as much litter as they can but it is not all their responsibility.

Mrs Nussbaumer said "we used to clear the road by hand, but it has become increasingly worse, leading to a road sweeper being required. People bring in their own food and drink then leave it all in the road for us to clear.

"The cost of disposal of this rubbish is split between ourselves (Cobo Bay Hotel) and The Rockmount, whether it eminates from purchases from our premises or not."

Mrs Nussbaumer added that she often clears litter herself by hand to try and prevent it damaging the environment. "I usually do a sweep of the beach myself after a balcony gig, collecting any plastic glasses which come from our bars, plus whatever other rubbish I come across.

"At around 19:30 on Sunday, I looked over the seawall and saw that there were still many people on the beach, some in large groups, probably 100 people plus, just in front of Cobo Bay Hotel. Therefore I felt it was a waste of time to do a sweep. I also check the next door neighbours front gardens to ensure they are not inconvenienced. However, there is a limit as to what we are responsible for."

A maintenance man employed by the Cobo Bay Hotel swept the front area of the hotel by 08:00 on Monday 7 May; the day after the gig, with Mr and Mrs Nussbaumer saying they always do another check of the road, pavement and the drain holes in the wall.

However, this week - at around 08:15 on the Bank Holiday Morning morning - Mrs Nussbaumer said she saw the two ladies who had already collected a large amount of rubbish from the bay. She said "I thanked them, and explained that our maintenance man was just about to check the beach as well. They asked me to sweep up the glass from the supporting wall of the seawall, which did not relate to us as we do not serve bottles or use glasses at the gigs, which we did. I also asked him to clear at least six plastic bags full of rubbish which were at the bottom of the beach steps, again a lot of it having nothing to go with our sales."

Mr and Mrs Nussbaumer said they are not sure how much more they can do to ensure the area is left clear after so many people use it to socialise during times of good weather. Mrs Nussbaumer said "there is a responsibility of the public to take their rubbish home with them, or dispose of it in the bins supplied.

The couple also said that the States of Guernsey used to supply a bin at the top of the steps outside the Rockmount, but explained that it is no longer placed there. Their statement continued "when the forecast is for a good Bank Holiday weekend, especially when they know a balcony gig is on, surely they should have some forethought and put out some 660L or 1100L bins instead of 240L bins in the car parks either end of the beach which fill up too quickly, leaving an unsightly amount of rubbish to the side of them which is then strewn around the area by seagulls?"

In response, a joint statement has been issued by Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services and Traffic and Highway Services which explains that any bins which were removed to reduce the burden of emptying them during the quieter winter months were all put back in place by Tuesday 1 May. 

"The “summer level” of States’ provision of bins and collections was in place by 1 May. This ensures that there are enough bins to cope with most summer days." However the statement adds that where there is a special event the organisers are required to provide additional recycling and general refuse bins, "when applying for their event, the organisers have to specify the additional litter collection arrangements they intend to put in place to supplement the States beach provision."

It is acknowledged that despite the best efforts of all involved some people will choose not to use bins and will instead leave their rubbish lying around. Regarding the situation at Cobo last weekend, the statement said: "In this specific case, it is also clear that a lot of rubbish was dropped in the area on the exceptionally warm and sunny Bank Holiday Monday, the day after the event (balcony gig).

"As a result of this, States Works undertook additional clearance work on Tuesday morning following the “balcony gig”. The efforts of the public-spirited volunteers who bagged waste found on the beach after the event was also very much appreciated."

There are fines which can be issued if people are found to be littering with the same law applying to the beach as any other public area. That comes under the Fixed Penalty Notices (Band B) and can be issued by Guernsey Police to anyone found leaving litter on a beach or the road under The Refuse Disposal Ordinance, 1959. 

Traffic and Highway Services and Land Management Services said their staff will continue to work with the Cobo Bay Hotel and other businesses in the area to try to minimise the amount of littering in the area.