Cassie James’ guest today (Sunday 7th March) on her mid-morning Mighty Radio show was local man Chris Truett who is on a mission to clean up the town, literally!
Each Saturday Chris Truett heads down to the Coastal Road, off his own back, wheelbarrow, shovel and broom in hand, to clear the sand and which accumulates along the cycle path to ensure its safe for people to use.
Chris made the decision to take on this role after a lady fell and broke her collar bone whilst using the lane.
“I thought how bad is this? If that had been my mother, I’d have gone mad! So, I thought, you know what, I’m going to do something about this.
“Cause I was furloughed, I came down with a barrow and a spade and started shifting the sand off the sea wall and onto the beach.
“I’ve been at it two months now.
“I’m back at work now so I just come down most Saturdays 8.30am to 4.30pm barrowing sand. It’s keeping me fit!
“Still got a lot to move yet but its slowly getting there and people are appreciating it so it’s very rewarding.
“A couple of guys from the rugby club have been down to help for a couple of hours and one week a fella turned up to help with his spade.
“I’m not asking anyone to help me but if you do want to come down on Saturday mornings with a spade and a wheelbarrow then you’re more than welcome, obviously all social distancing.
“Fresh air, it’s good for you!!”
Chris has also planted over 1000 daffodil bulbs down Rotten Row back in October.
“I remember the left-hand side being all roses and it being beautiful, its all grass now. I thought I’m going to put some bulbs down, so I put a thousand bulbs down over a weekend.
“What will happen is they will just die back down again, and the council can keep cutting the grass but for two or three weeks of the year its full of blossom and flowers.”
So, what got Chris on this journey?
“This all started with a bit of litter picking.
“I walk on the beach most weekends and you see litter about and its annoying and I thought, when I do my walk, I can just get a litter picker and start picking some litter up.
“It costs me nothing, it’s part of my walk. It’s become a bit of a routine now.”
Chris has a fantastic attitude towards his town and urged others to think about the little things they can do to positively contribute.
“It’s socially good for everyone.
“People have health problems and this, that and the other these days, get out, get some fresh air.
“Get on a beach, get down the canals get in the countryside, whatever you want to do just get out there and enjoy yourselves and if you can do a bit of litter picking at the same time it all helps.
“You don’t have to be part of a big group; you can do it on your own or with your family and the kids.
“It’s about making the place look tidy. Keep Britain tidy as they used to say years ago!!”
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