Degradation of the Environment? Noooh, really?

For some time now I have been worried about the degradation of our immediate environment. It is galling to have to admit that we, the very citizens, are guilty of fouling our nest. But also the failure of our elected councils to enforce the laws Westminster and themselves have made to ensure areas are fit to live in for all. This country and I will single out South Wales here, has been subjected to an onslaught of gigantic proportions. First of all the failure to deal properly with waste. Obviously our waste problem is not helped by the manufacturing processes producing enormous quantities of plastics. Not forgetting the growing electronic waste heaps. But it should have been obvious to the planning departments that burying waste in that quantity is never going to be good. There is a site behind my own house that was ‘heightened’ to provide space for treated wooden pallets to be stored prior to delivery to orders from local and national businesses. In order to do so a small local river was re-routed and now due to bank erosion has itself directed towards the houses. The treated pallets left a legacy of chemical poisons that resulted all fish and most other life disappearing which is still a problem today. Besides all of that this river due to the greater amounts of rain, has turned into a raging flow from time to time and soon will attempt to enter gardens and possibly homes as well.

On my walks around the area one has to see the amount of rubbish callously thrown onto the lanes and roads. We have dedicated people who form litter-picking groups but they have told me it is a losing battle. As many people know, I was born in the Netherlands and in Amsterdam at that time was a requirement of people to clean their own fronts (mainly pavements), including the bit bordering the roads. No need to scrub it although many did but to keep it free from wind blown detritus. There were no McDonalds’ in those days so at least we were spared that but even so there was enough that blew around on the ever-blowing wind. 

It is something I do myself. I keep my front, up to the road, as clean as possible. But I’m afraid I am the only one in the street. Perhaps the councils need to start thinking about enforcing by-laws and not only that but start planning for properly improving our environments. To aid in an healthier one and provide spacious parkland areas as there are more OAPs year by year. This would also entail a better idea what will be needed for the OAP bombshell. Housing, relaxation areas, available medical and social services. Yes, it will cost more so I think all of us might have to face increases in taxation but we also need a fit-for-purpose Council structure and well-educated personnel.

The housing as mentioned needs to be fit for the elderly, possibly with close-by assistance personnel like nurses. I know it sounds like Utopia but surely if we can fit in world wars and spend trillions on destructive weaponry then we can do simpler things like building proper housing in areas that do not tax the environment? In the Rhondda we have whole streets that are really not fit to be lived in. Built during the 1850s and later, to accommodate the labour influx for the recently opened coal mines. Then it was usual to have families of 10 or even more living in two rooms and two bedrooms. Toilets were outside and either the refuse went into the river or a latrine. Later on pipes were laid to flow it to the sea. No gas and no electric for most. Where are the Councils planning to re-arrange all? In the Netherlands it was called ‘Sanering’. Remediation, so a new lay-out with better housing more in tune with today’s needs. So, solar panels, and proper insulation. Well managed so that no cowboys are going to fleece the elderly.