Aitken hits back at letter on fly-tipping
THE leader of Glasgow City Council has responded to a student activist after he penned a scathing letter about the issue of fly-tipping in his area.
Councillor Susan Aitken replied to Shettleston resident John White after he claimed that the council introducing charges for bulk uplifts and a reduction in bin collections have left people with no alternatives to fly-tipping in the Carntynehall Road area, as the Glasgow Times reported last month.
The 18-year-old said: “Fly-tipping has become an absolute scourge across our city and I decided enough was enough.
“It was horrific to have to look out and walk by this mess every day in my home community and elsewhere in Glasgow. It is never acceptable for anyone to fly-tip, but the council administration must take responsibility for the effect their policies are causing,”
It is understood the land in Carntyne is not council land and private owners have since cleared it.
However, in her reply, Ms Aitken disputed that the increase in fly-tipping across the city was due to decisions made by the local authority.
She said: “You suggest in your letter that fly-tipping takes place because of decisions made by the council. I cannot agree with this. Fly-tipping is illegal and an offence. There is no justification for it and it is never acceptable.
“Everyone has a responsibility to dispose of their personal and household waste in a way that respects the environment they share with others and excuses should not be made for those who abuse council services and their fellow citizens.”
The council leader did not take Mr White up on his offer to go on a walk around the community but did urge him to get in touch so that cleansing workers could remove any discarded waste.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman confirmed that the land did not belong to the council and that cleansing workers were not responsible for removing the waste as a result.