In the wake of the bouts of anti-social behaviour in Llangollen town centre and the Horseshoe Falls over the recent bank holiday weekend, local county councillor Karen Edwards issues this statement looking at the changes in attitudes she believes are necessary to combat such problems ...
Environmental Responsibility, Societal Change, and the Need for Stronger Government Action
As a ward member for Llangollen, I care deeply about our landscape, culture, heritage, and the historic vibrancy and welcoming nature of our town, qualities that are valued across our community.
I regularly see the consequences of a growing culture of disposability and wider shifts in societal behaviour and attitudes towards our shared environment, which I know many residents also experience and feel strongly about. These issues reflect broader changes in how people interact with public spaces, and the increasing tendency for convenience to outweigh collective responsibility.
Residents and businesses quite rightly raise concerns about litter, discarded takeaway packaging, fly-tipping, damage to public spaces, the unauthorised use of off-road motorbikes and vehicles that damage and scar the countryside, and waste being left in some of our most valued natural areas. These are not isolated incidents. They are recurring problems that affect the appearance of our communities, place additional costs on taxpayers and undermine the efforts of those who take pride in where they live.
More broadly, there appears to have been a shift in societal attitudes in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, with a greater emphasis on convenience and individual behaviour often taking precedence over collective responsibility. Products designed for convenience and short-term use contribute significantly to this problem. The continued sale of disposable barbecues is a case in point, but more broadly the use of any barbecue in open countryside, parks or other sensitive outdoor locations can present a significant fire risk, particularly during periods of warm and dry weather. Such issues sit uneasily alongside wider ambitions to protect and enhance our environment.
Many people use and enjoy local public spaces responsibly. However, a small minority appears to be increasing, and a rise in anti-social behaviour is also being seen alongside this, particularly during periods of high visitor numbers , with some individuals continuing to act as though someone else will deal with the consequences of their actions. This attitude has a harmful impact on the environment and on the quality of life of those who live, work, and visit our area.
Addressing these challenges requires more than regulation alone. It requires meaningful societal and cultural change that promotes personal responsibility, respect for public spaces and pride in our local environment, supported by stronger education and firm action where standards are repeatedly ignored. Alongside this, there must be visible, consistent enforcement against littering, fly-tipping , illegal parking, and other forms of environmental and anti-social behaviour.
If we are serious about protecting our environment and our heritage, then we must focus not only on long-term ambitions but also on the everyday behaviours that have a direct impact on our lives, and the people of Llangollen and our rural communities deserve clean, safe and well-maintained public spaces, and they deserve to see practical action taken at the higher end of government to achieve that goal.
Llangollen remains a town of which residents can be proud, and one that continues to attract visitors and new residents because of its unique character, heritage, natural beauty, and strong sense of community. It is precisely because so many people care deeply about our town and surrounding countryside and our rural areas that these issues deserve to be addressed.
Those in positions of greater power and responsibility need to grasp the reality of what we are facing and address it decisively.
