No fines for litter
Zero tickets issued
New figures have revealed that South Lanarkshire Council failed to hand out any litter fines last year.
It comes as levels of littering and flytipping have rocketed during lockdown, blighting local communities.
Just this week, firebugs set alight a pile of waste brazenly dumped in the middle of Calderglen Road in East Kilbride.
And a picture was posted on social media of rubble and other refuse discarded at the entrance to the local beauty spot, Langlands Moss.
The latest statistics were gathered through Freedom of Information requests by the Don’t Trash Our Future campaign – launched last summer by In Your Area, which includes the Lanarkshire Live news titles.
SLC were one of 14 local authorities who failed to hand out any litter fines – while neighbouring North Lanarkshire issued the second-highest number of litter fines in Scotland last year.
A total of 442 of the £80 fixed-penalty notices were issued across North Lanarkshire during 2020, almost matching the total of 434 from 2019.
SLC did issue 20 fixed penalties in connection with fly-tipping last year.
The newly-formed East Kilbride Community Litter Pickers (EKCLP) have hit out at the findings.
Since beginning their mission to clean up the town last month they have gathered more than 1300 bags of
litter and seen first hand the impact of reckless and illegal fly-tipping.
Founder Alice Slorach Alves said: “If more fines were issued then the message would get across that littering our town, roadsides and countryside will not be tolerated.
“A tougher and firmer approach is necessary, alongside education to ensure that children are getting the correct message.
“At the moment too many youngsters are chucking litter on the ground because they expect the council to tidy up after them.
“This is completely wrong.”
Alice added: “We are a really positive group who take action in our communities to address the problem and we will work in partnership to highlight issues and get results.”
The group are also encouraging
locals to take part in the #1adayinMay challenge. It aims to get as many people as possible to pick up one piece of litter every day, emphasising the huge impact it could have on tackling the litter.
A photo can then be uploaded on social media with the hashtag #1adayinMay.
SLC’s Alistair McKinnon said: “We have a no tolerance stance on littering and fly-tipping.
“And while our ability to operate as normal was impacted by Covid, we were able to gather sufficient evidence to issue fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping on 20 occasions during 2020/21.”
Penalties for those caught dropping litter in public range from £80, while the Illegal dumping of waste carries fines from £200, as well as the potential for criminal charges and even a prison sentence for the worst offenders.