One resident found piles of rubbish floating in the river surrounded by abandoned prams and shopping trolleys
An abandoned shopping trolley in the River Alt at Woolfall Heath.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Residents in one part of Merseyside have expressed their “disgust” after a popular beauty spot was found covered in piles of rubbish. Pictures taken over the last 24 hours show plastic bags, glass bottles, household waste, shopping trolleys and abandoned prams strewn across the surface and banks of the River Alt in Huyton.
The Alt is an urban river which flows north east through Lancashire and Merseyside, rises in Huyton and empties into the River Mersey. It also has a history of flooding and appeared to burst its banks back in October, leading to the closure of Valley Road in Kirkby after it was submerged in water.
The rubbish found floating in the River Alt was discovered by a local resident who was walking through Woolfall Heath Park on Wednesday, January 1. To raise awareness of the issue, they posted a photo to a local Facebook group which showed the area covered in waste products.
One person who responded to the post wrote: “This issue has been ongoing for a long time. It’s disgusting.” They added: “There are around five prams, toys and loads of rubbish in the part by the college by Stockbridge lane.”
Another person commented on the history of the river and how it was used by the community. They said: “I bet a long time ago the River Alt was a lot cleaner. I’m probably going back to 1950s – 1960s. I bet kids could play in it. It’s such a shame.”
An abandoned pram near the River Alt at Woolfall Heath.(Image: Liverpool Echo)
However, a lot of the comments were focused on the damage to the environment and pest control issues. One member of the Facebook group commented: “It’s in the entire community’s benefit if watercourses such as the Alt are kept scrupulously clean. Rats are carriers of disease.”
One person added: “Rats will be having a field day”.
It is unknown whether the rubbish found floating in the river yesterday has anything to do with recent flooding and heavy rain in Merseyside. The ECHO understands the Environment Agency is aware of the issue in Huyton, but are also busy dealing with multiple incidents across the region and beyond following the wet weather on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.