Kirkby dad's one-man mission to keep 'lifeline' park clear of rubbish

Dale Grounds has been picking up litter at various locations across the town and has already collected around 10 bin bags of rubbish – including one just full of Covid masks.

The 30-year-old single dad started clearing rubbish in Kingsway Park after it began to build up during the pandemic.

Dale, who is an Ashfield district councillor, quickly filled five black bin bags of discarded rubbish – which included masks and dog mess.

He is also a volunteer marshal at the Ashfield Vaccination Centre and has been clearing litter there.

Now Dale is urging folk to ‘take their litter home’ and not to ‘drop your masks’.

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Dale, who lives at Kingsway, said: “I felt very disappointed that people were not using the bins at Kingsway Park.

"I wanted to encourage everyone to help keep the area as an attractive place for the community. I also wanted to help council workers who have been short-staffed at times with people self-isolating.

“As a volunteer three days a week at the vaccine centre in Kirkby, I heard from people who had been in lockdown for months on how much they valued the being outside in Kingsway Park. Some said that the park had become a lifeline over the past 12 months.

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“I find lots of masks on the ground all over. They are considered clinical waste and can’t be put in the ordinary waste.”

Next week Dale says he is litter picking at Kingsway cemetery.