AS lockdown restrictions ease and more people go out again, residents in Bicester have noticed litter returning in the town.

KFC packaging was left on the wall of a property in North Bicester last week, leaving a resident - who has asked not be named - frustrated.

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They said:“We are all pleased with the easing of lockdown, it means we can get back to some normality. To our area of North Bicester, it is the daily joy of picking up litter in our street.

“Having two takeaways in the vicinity, it is cola and beer cans, pizza boxes, chips and papers all over the pavements and in the gardens.

"The perpetrators cannot even be bothered to put the rubbish in the large paper bag issued by the shop.

“At least one of the mindless morons actually wore a mask when purchasing their supper, leaving it at the scene. Pity they didn’t take it all home.”

In the past, litter has been left strewn across Bicester Park and Ride and Bicester Cemetery.

Jamie Jessett, from Bicester, set up volunteer group Bicester Litter Pickers last year and goes to areas such as Bure Park Nature Reserve, Bicester Shopping Park, the town centre and St Edburg’s Church to clear rubbish each week.

He said litter increases when lockdowns are lifted and urged people to take better care of their environment.

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He said: "Some people can not be bothered to find the next bin available or take it home and some think it’s funny to show off in front of their mates.

"Everyone needs to be more respectful towards the environment and that starts from school life. We need to educate people that awful behaviour isn’t acceptable and councils and government need to do more."

He says open spaces and bus stops are hot spots for litter and that more bins need to be installed in these areas.

Bicester Town Council's environment committee recently reviewed and approved a program that would see 90 litter bins and 56 dog bins installed/replaced throughout the town.

Seventy green bin locations have been identified such as Bure Park, Coopers Green, Jubilee Lake, Launton Meadows and George Street. Cherwell District Council has agreed to empty these bins.

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