Weekend is marred by litter and rule breakers
Rubbish piling up at beauty spots
and frustrated but it happens every time there is nice weather. On this occasion it was exceptionally bad, probably due to the easing of lockdown.
“There were used nappies, beer cans and other rubbish on the grass and around the overspilling bins.
“They can obviously manage to take the stuff with them so could quite easily take it away again and dispose of it correctly. It’s laziness in my opinion and a reflection on current society.
“These people congregating are understandably relieved that there has been a relaxing of the rules, but are still flouting the lockdown rules.
“The guidance clearly states we are allowed to visit people from one other household and no more than eight people.
“Where I live there is lots of broken glass in the playground of the local primary school. Also broken glass at local beauty spots such as Kinnoull Hill and the MacDuff monument near Scone.
“I can’t understand what goes through people’s head when they do this.”
A member of the North Inch and Muirton Community Council posted on social media, pleading with people to clean up after themselves.
They said: “[The] sun is shining [and] the weather is sweet. Some photos have been shared [of the littering] - this is our park, folks. Judging others doesn’t make the litter disappear. Take a bin bag with you, take it home.
“Our household bins are still being uplifted. Keep safe, this virus hasn’t gone away yet.”
Highland ward councillor Mike Williamson said he has been inundated with complaints from constituents over rubbish and fire remains left by those with motor homes and wild campers at beauty spots by Loch Tummel, Loch Rannoch and Loch Tayside, among others.
Many also complained that some had travelled to Highland Perthshire from outwith the area for a weekend getaway, with visitors even accused of chopping down trees.
He said: “We have very fragile resources up here. They were put to the test at the weekend and suffered quite badly. We don’t have the facilities open to deal with it as everything was closed.
”I accept people want to go out but COVID is still out there and my message is the still the same as the Scottish Government’s: to stay at home where you can and stay within the five-mile radius.”
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney spoke out urging residents against potentially undoing weeks of hard work adhering to the previous lockdown measures.
Mr Wishart said: “The message from the first minister remains that people should stay at home as much as possible.
“I understand that it is tempting to head out and about, given the sacrifices we have all made over the last few weeks, but I would ask that people do not travel long distances to come to beauty spots in my constituency. If people continue to comply with the current restrictions, the sooner we can move on to the next phase of the route map.”
Mr Swinney said: “For over two months, we have all made significant sacrifices in order to get to grips with COVID and ensure we are best equipped to deal with it. To that end, it is hugely disappointing to see the progress we have all made together be undermined and threatened by a minority of people.
“It is crucial that we closely follow the guidelines in place. Failure to do so could see us end up in a situation where more stringent lockdown measures are necessary once more.”
But it was not all doom and gloom on what was a stunning weekend.
North Inch and Blairgowrie golf courses were among a number of sports clubs to reopen on Friday, with players eager to tee-off once again. Kinnoull Tennis Club also returned to action and bowling clubs welcomed back members.
Garden centres in Perth and Kinross reopened on the same day with long queues seen at Dobbies in Perth.
And many of those looking to offload a lockdown’s worth of expendable household items headed to one of the region’s nine recycling centres yesterday (June 1) for the first day of reopening.
A PKC spokesperson said: “After 66 days of lockdown, we understand people will want to take advantage of restrictions easing, particularly with the good weather we are currently enjoying.
“But although the rules have changed, the lockdown is not over and we are sure people will follow the guidance to ensure their safety and that of others.”
•PKC’s guidance on parks and open spaces is available at www.pkc.gov.uk/ article/21648/Coronavirus-Parks-andopen-spaces