A call has been made for a railway track to be cleaned up

Dovercourt Railway Station's track has been littered with cans and rubbish.

Harwich town councillor Garry Calver has called on the companies responsible to do something about the problem.

Trashed line - councillors Garry Calver and Wilf Rose survey the rubbish-strewn railway track at Dovercourt station. Picture NIGEL BROWN

It is thought some people use the station to drink in the evening and then throw their empties on to the track.

One option may be to play classical music at the station in a bid to deter loiterers.

Mr Calver said: "A number of residents drew my attention to the terrible state of the track at Dovercourt Bay station.

"I immediately contacted Network Rail's community services department, who were extremely helpful and confirmed they would arrange for contractors to clean the area at the earliest opportunity, although they did warn that might take 28 days.

"While the litter issue is Network Rail's responsibility, it's obviously local people who are creating the problem and I would ask that they show more respect for the town and for the effect that their actions are having."

Jenny Sacre, press officer for Network Rail, said the firm took these kind of incidents seriously and there was a contractor who cleaned the area.

She added there had not been any previous complaints, but that if the company could work with First Great Eastern, which is responsible for the station, then it would do so.

Peter Northfield, press officer for First Great Eastern, said British Transport Police would be informed if there was a problem.

Published Friday, June 13, 2003

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