Safety a priority in clean-up
In a recent article with the headline “Why were my kids picking up dog mess and fag ends?” (Express, April 26) Labour Councillor Karen Kennedy is quoted saying she was “raging” when she heard that her children had taken part in a litter pick during the Big Spring Clean weekend.
She questioned the safety measures that were put in place for the children.
Frankly, I am not surprised by Labour’s latest tactics to find a negative in the SNP’s wholly positive Team Up to Clean Up campaign.
Perhaps if Councillor Kennedy had bothered to join us on one of the litter picks, she could have seen for herself the care that went into ensuring the safety of the children.
Consent was sought for all children, who were specifically told not to pick up glass, dog mess, cigarettes or alcohol.
Children were supervised by teachers, council staff and councillors and, honestly, it is an offence to play down the attention that was shown to the children.
What Councillor Kennedy also fails to understand is that the SNP’s Team Up to Clean Up campaign is not just about picking today’s litter up, it is about educating future generations on the importance of not throwing away litter.
Introducing this to children at a young age is vital if we are serious about changing future behaviours.
Let us not forget that it was the previous Labour administration who took litter picking off their agenda and saw the cleanliness of our streets drop to 30th place out of 32 local authorities.
Therefore, I would encourage Councillor Kennedy in the future to get involved with the campaign rather than shouting from the sidelines about matters that she clearly does not understand. Councillor Natalie Don Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank
Toomuchtoask
I am happy that the elderly gentleman in Paisley View (Express, April 27) is getting out into the fresh air while picking up litter, but he is obviously unaware of what is being asked of our primary schoolchildren.
They are being taken out of school during the school day and taken to areas where there are dog poo bags, cigarette ends and drink cans with foul smelling liquid inside – and are being told to lift them.
Some of the parents are even unaware that their children are doing this, or are being removed from their schools to do it.
It is a great idea to teach the children that they have to keep their areas clean and tidy, but why are they being made to pick up this kind of stuff?
They can be taught in school by picking up litter from their playgrounds and not be put in danger.
I witnessed some primary schoolchildren being sent into a place that is a well-known dog toilet area and a well-known site for drinkers.
Why on earth are Renfrewshire Council sending them into these areas?
Primary schoolchildren should only be picking up papers and crisp bags that have been dropped during their break times, not dog mess that irresponsible owners have left in the street, not cigarette ends, not dregs of liquid left in cans.
I am calling on Renfrewshire Council to put a stop to this and keep our children safe. Margaret Devine Burnfoot Crescent Paisley