Piles of clothes, gas canisters and a burnt cross - the shocking rubbish left at Sunderland skatepark

This is the shocking amount of rubbish left at a skatepark in Sunderland following some of the hottest days of the year so far.
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Seaburn resident Paul Spence, 29, was out walking his dog on Friday, June 26, when he came across the piles of waste scattered across benches and green space in Seaburn skatepark.

Sharing photos of the litter with the Echo, Paul said he came across piles of clothes, gas capsules and drink bottles in the park as he was walking through it at around 11am.

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The Nissan worker said: “It’s not nice. There were clothes left on the bench, loads of Co2 capsules and drinks bottles amongst the usual rubbish.

The rubbish left in Seabun skatepark. Photos by Paul Spence.The rubbish left in Seabun skatepark. Photos by Paul Spence.
The rubbish left in Seabun skatepark. Photos by Paul Spence.

“There was also a massive cross that was about 6ft which was lying on the grass and looked like someone had been burning it.

“It was weird the way it had all been scattered about.

“The park is my usual cut through from Whitburn and this is the worst I have seen it in terms of the amount of rubbish left. It’s horrible.”

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What appeared to be a burnt cross was left in Seaburn skate park. Photo by Paul Spence.What appeared to be a burnt cross was left in Seaburn skate park. Photo by Paul Spence.
What appeared to be a burnt cross was left in Seaburn skate park. Photo by Paul Spence.

Paul believes that more CCTV cameras in the area would help to act as a deterrent for flytippers and those leaving litter.

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And the latest report of rubbish in Wearside beauty spots and green spaces comes in a week that has seen appalling amounts of rubbish left on Seaburn and Roker beaches – as well as those in South Shields – following the scorching weather.

Shocking photos released by Sunderland City Council this week showed the likes of glass beer bottles, plastic bags and food containers abandoned on the beach on Wednesday, June 24 after visitors made their way home.

Sunderland City Council has condemned such acts of littering and has warned that fines will be imposed for those who flout the rules.

Co2 canisters and bottles were left lying on green spaces in the park.Co2 canisters and bottles were left lying on green spaces in the park.
Co2 canisters and bottles were left lying on green spaces in the park.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Both littering and fly-tipping are unacceptable, irresponsible and illegal.

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“Sunderland City Council has and continues to increase its resources on taking action against all litter louts.

“We encourage anyone with information about littering or fly-tipping to report it immediately at https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/report-flytipping or 0191 520 5550.”

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