A DISABLED woman was left housebound for almost two weeks after the wheel of her motorised scooter was punctured in a glass-strewn subway in Basingstoke.
Margaret Smith, 57, of Bermuda Close, Popley, suffers from osteoarthritis and cellulitis, and is dependent on a motorised scooter to visit family, friends or the shopping centre.
The wheel of her scooter was punctured after using the subway near John Hunt of Everest Community School, Popley.
She said: "I'm mobile again now but this situation has made me dubious of going out because it's knocked my confidence.
"The sole purpose of buying the buggy was to boost my confidence because this has happened to me before and I had periods when I didn't go out.
"I want to make an issue of it because I'm not the only one to suffer. It's not just disabled people like me, but children are in danger of cutting themselves too."
Mrs Smith's concern about broken glass littering the Popley area is one of many litter-related problems identified by the Gazette's Litter - Let's Bin It initiative, launched under the umbrella of the newspaper's Basingstoke - A Place To Be Proud Of campaign.
The Gazette's focus on litter has highlighted the work of the Borough Council's own streetcare scheme called Clean Safe Streets. Part of this involves community wardens reporting litter problems and ensuring a rapid response to them.
Claire Griffiths, head of community safety and health improvement at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: "With the wardens being out and about in the community, they should deter anti-social behaviour and will also be able to report rubbish, broken glass or damage to the streetcare officers sooner than may otherwise have occurred."
If you know of individuals, groups or organisations making a difference to their local community by blitzing the litter, then call Jenny Legg on 01256 337421. And if you have a view on the litter issue, write to The Letters Editor, Gazette Newspapers, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD or e-mail editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article