A PENSIONER is furious people are treating Shaftesbury Lake, in Parks, as a rubbish tip.

There are shopping trolleys, decaying planks of wood, and even discarded nappies in the the lake

Gail Collins wants action taken swiftly by the council to clear up the rubbish in hope of deterring residents from using it as a rubbish bin.

The 67-year-old has lived in the area for more than 40 years and remembers a time where Shaftesbury Lake was a feature that the community could be proud of.

But she believes a change in attitudes from people about the use of the lake has led to a decline in the respect it deserves.

“This problem has been going on for a while but much more since the fishing club packed up,” she said.

“When they were running the lake was maintained but now it is just an eyesore. I have lived here nearly all my life and it is about having the place looking nice.

“The more it is run down, the worse people will treat it. There are no bins around here anyway so that is probably why people are just leaving their rubbish behind.”

She says the smell from the lake is so bad she no longer likes to walk her dog there.

After losing her husband Francis over a year ago, Gail, who moved to the area in the late 1960s, used to take great pleasure in taking her dog Hope around the lake on a daily basis.

But now she says the stagnant smell coming from the once popular spot has made her think twice about going there at all.

“Years ago I would have been in that stream cleaning it and I would do now but it is so overgrown that it is hard to access and I’m getting on too,” she said.

“It is quite shocking at what rubbish has been thrown in there and it bothers me a lot because I am really into nature and wildlife and photography but since this has built up, I can’t take any many photos around the lake anymore.

“I think personally the worst thing that has been dumped in the lake is the discarded nappies,” she said.

“At least once every week someone dumps some more nappies there.” I would rather have them put it in the dog bin than the lake but that is overflowing most days.

“Years ago the whole place was lovely and the council came along and trimmed the verges but it seems the Parks in general has become run down and no one seems to care.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We will be working with Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish Council in order to resolve the situation at the lake.”

Coun Kevin Parry from the parish council said: “At this moment in time, the parish council isn’t responsible for Shaftesbury Lake.

“The fishing club used to be responsible for it but when they surrendered their lease it reverted back to the borough council.”

Kevin said that a dedicated army of litter pickers is often needed to clear up the rubbish, but no sooner is it tidy that it becomes littered again.

“We are constantly battling against people dropping litter,” he said. “We really need people to take their rubbish home with the.”