New fight against litter after‘massive deterioration’
South Lanarkshire Council is to develop a litter strategy after councillors heard the UK is a “dirty” and “throw-away” nation.
Councillors approved plans to start work on a new strategy for 2022 to 2027 last week with the final draft not expected to be approved until March 2022.
Environmental initiatives officer Emma Berry told the council’s environmental and sustainability committee that the “main focus is prevention rather than cure”.
The strategy is set to propose a vision of a litter-free South Lanarkshire in line with the national litter strategy, ‘Towards a Litter-Free Scotland’ and the updated code of practice on litter and refuse.
Tackling fly-tipping, graffiti and dog fouling will be included as part of the strategy.
Deputy leader of the Labour group, Councillor Gerry Convery, said he was “trying his best not to be negative” about the current litter situation.
But he said: “I have seen this for 26 years. We have all these fancy ideas, we’ve done it for years.
“The bottom line is quite simple. I can see a massive deterioration in the state of South Lanarkshire as regards to litter and fly-tipping. It is getting worse.
“We are a dirty nation. We are a throwaway nation. We are in a crisis.
“It is not the community that is going to solve the problem. It is us putting resources where they are needed and making this a nice place to stay.”
Rutherglen South councillor Robert Brown said that litter and dog fouling had “escalated quite significantly” during lockdown and that dog fouling in particular had “got out of hand”.
He called for a “crash programme” for coming out of lockdown in a bid to “restore standards”.
Councillor Monique McAdams added: “I am dying to get back out when we can actually do organised litter picks. They work really well and I’ll definitely have a team of people that will be looking to do that because I get people emailing me all the time.”
Clydesdale West councillor David Shearer said it was “absolutely critical” that the final strategy gets “buy-in from the public”.
He said: “Going forward, we need to try and prevent litter from happening rather than just reacting to the fact it has been dropped.
“How we get that buy-in is the big question.”
He also called for fines to be imposed on fly-tippers and that those responsible should be named and shamed.
Despite delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic in bringing the strategy proposal forward for endorsement, a range of research to inform the strategy – including mapping of litter bins, a fly-tipping heat map and awareness campaigns on social media – have already been undertaken.
Ms Berry said: “The main focus is prevention rather than cure so the proposal is the development of new plans, preventative action, education and community involvement and engagement.
“The strategy will cover the period 2022 to 2027 and propose a vision for a range of plans, policies, actions and environmental initiatives that drive our commitment to preventing litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping among other things.
“Each council resource will be required to contribute to the strategy through the creation of a litter prevention action plan that recognises the role that each resource can play.
“I wanted to finish by saying that the strategy needs your support, buy-in and involvement. We need all levels of council departments and elected members involved.”
Executive director for community and enterprise Michael McGlynn added: “Producing a strategy is one thing.
“I genuinely believe it is the process of producing a strategy, the publicity and how we try and engage with our communities that is about changing their behaviour and taking civic pride.
“There will always be exceptions to that. We hope to make some inroads to it.
“We all have a collective responsibility and we all need to buy into it.”
Two teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with a serious assault in King’s Park.
A 14-year-old boy was found seriously injured on Friday afternoon and was rushed to hospital where he was treated for stab wounds. His condition is currently described as“serious but stable”. Police have confirmed that a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested and charged. Enquiries into the incident are continuing.
Detective Sergeant Alistair Donaldson, of Cathcart CID, said:“Two boys, aged 13 and 14, have been arrested and charged in connection with a serious assault in Kings Park, Glasgow.
“A 14-year-old boy was found seriously injured around 3.40pm on Friday, 12 February.
“Emergency services attended and the victim was taken to the
Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow for treatment to stab wounds. Medical staff describe his condition as serious but stable.
“Enquiries are continuing to identify everyone involved in the incident.
“A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
A Cambuslang firm has gone‘one step beyond’by creating a Madness-themed welfare van for rail workers.
Plant hire company AB2K created the ‘Mad Mess’vehicle which paid tribute to the classic pop band with a wrapped design of the Madness‘One Step Beyond’ cover with the slogan‘Our house in the middle of our track’emblazoned on the side.
The pop legends even got in touch to say they loved the van, which is used by rail construction employees and key workers for breaks while out on the tracks.
Mark Bedford, aka Bedders, the bass player from the pop legends, published a video on Youtube praising the“brilliant” van.
He said:“I’ve just seen some fantastic pictures of a rather unusual vehicle. It’s a big lorry that goes along railway tracks.
“What made me most pleased and proud about it is that it was covered in Madness imagery.
“I found out it was called the Mad Mess and it looks absolutely brilliant. You’ve really gone one step beyond.
“I loved it so much I actually showed the rest of the band and they’ve asked me to pass on my very best wishes to you all there and also to thank you for all the essential work you’re doing on keeping the railways going.
“I hope you are really going to enjoy your very own Mad mobile. We actually like it so much we quite fancy building one ourselves.”
The firm’s managing director John Murphy said:“We are immensely grateful to Bedders and the band for this response.
“The reaction on social media has been overwhelming.
“Rail staff work in cold dark places and as key workers their welfare is paramount.
“We wanted to do something to bring a smile to their faces so we took an unused vehicle and designed it around a band that many of us really love – Madness.
“There’s no doubt about the fact that this band, a national treasure, makes people feel good. The very sight of the vehicle approaching remote locations on rail with the Madness image on the side next to‘Mad Mess’instantly makes rail workers feel happier.
“On the road drivers honk their horns and wave – the presence of the nutty boys has lifted spirits for so many people, way beyond our company. This video from the band tops it all.”