Welcome to Westcliff

Reasons I'm a freelancer

Genuine street sign. I wish it weren't.

Hi, I’m Becky, and I’m a copywriter and copy editor. I went full-time freelance last July. Just before that, I was managing a pawnbrokers in an area so insalubrious that the council had to erect street signs instructing human beings not to defecate in the street. I sincerely wish this were just a weird attention grab, it’s not. I’ve seen things. There’s a banning order in effect, and the list of prohibited behaviours is so long that the street signs are in landscape format (see above). 

They missed a couple of things. One of them is fly-tipping. The other one also begins with f. Those have both happened. In tandem on one occasion. At peak morning school-run time, on a pink sofa to be precise. 

It’s ok, I only saw the pictures. I didn’t want to but things happen. 

You might think taking pictures is a bit weird. You’d almost be right. 

It's just our council’s website has a helpful section where you can report fly-tipping online. And upload evidential pictures.

The sofa got dealt with pretty quickly.