![\"Litter](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_Litter-at-Box-Hill-5th-July.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSouthern Rail says they bins were removed due to recycling regulations<\/p>\n
Litter at Box Hill 5th July(Image: David Farmery)<\/p>\n
A Surrey train station that was once voted the county\u2019s prettiest station by Surrey Live readers is now stewing in litter after the rail operator took away all the bins on its platforms.<\/p>\n
Box Hill & Westhumble station, serving a popular spot for visitors looking to enjoy picturesque country walks, had its bins removed by Southern Rail to bring it into compliance with new recycling regulations.<\/p>\n
A Southern Rail spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) this is because the small station does not have \u201csecure space for the large wheelie bins we would need to store rubbish from the bins ready for collection\u201d.<\/p>\n
They are encouraging passengers to use bins on board their trains or to take their litter home to dispose of appropriately – while increasing the number of staff picking up rubbish from platforms.<\/p>\n
But residents are furious at the changes, with several writing to MP Chris Coghlan to voice their anger at the growing mountains of rubbish accruing on their local station\u2019s platforms.<\/p>\n
Pictures shared with the LDRS show piles of litter building up on the platforms, including plastic wrappers, coffee cups and beer bottles. These photos were taken on July 5, 2026.<\/p>\n
Westhumble resident David Farmery told the LDRS he thinks Southern Rail is \u201cabrogating its responsibility\u201d to ensure the station is clean and tidy.<\/p>\n
![\"Litter](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0_Litter-on-Box-Hill-platform.jpg\")
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Litter on Box Hill platform(Image: David Farmery)<\/p>\n
\u201cThey seem to think that Boxhill and Westhumble is a small station but we receive an incredible amount of visitors over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I really do wonder if they did a proper assessment of our situation rather than imposing a company wide no bins policy to their unstaffed stations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In a post on Facebook, Chris Coughlan said he had jointly raised concerns with Southern Rail along with residents, imploring the rail operator to fix the problem.<\/p>\n
While he said Southern had subsequently deployed more staff to carry out cleaning at the station, he added: \u201cI’m glad they’ve listened, but I will be asking them to provide a more permanent solution.\u201d<\/p>\n