Louts ruining our beauty spots
With the easing of lockdown, parts of Stirling area have been left with rubbish strewn across streets, debris left at both city and rural locations.
Last week the Stirling Observer launched the ‘Don’t Trash our Future’ campaign, calling for the punishment for littering to be raised to a £1000 fine or 100 hours of supervised community litter picking and we insist that it’s compulsory for local authorities to enforce the law.
The Stirling Observer, together with local community and information platform Inyourarea.co.uk and our nationwide network of sister newspapers and websites, have teamed up with Clean Up Britain to push for changes we believe will leave no choice but for both irresponsible litter louts and the authorities - who have the power to enforce the law but so often don’t - to take long-lasting action.
A petition has been launched with the aim of reaching 100,000 signatures so we can lobby the Government to change the legislation and shed the country of its long-held reputation as a litter-plagued nation.
We’re also calling on councils to flex their muscles in the fight against rubbish and make far better use of the powers they already have available.
Stirling area has saw dozens of instances of litter louts trashing areas.
Last month, 21 people were charged with irresponsible camping and environmental damage after parts of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park were left in a mess.
Areas were covered in rubbish over the first weekend after travel restrictions were lifted.
Later that month, a further 21 people were charged with irresponsible camping and environmental damage.
Other beauty spots across Stirling area have also ben trashed by louts.
The campaign has sealed crossparty support, being backed by a host of politicians and community groups.
Concerns have been raised particularly in rural areas, including in Callander, Killin, Aberofyle and other remote areas.
Trossachs and Teith SNP councillor, Evelyn Tweed said: “Since the easing of lockdown, litter and “dirty camping” has become a real issue across the ward. I attended a meeting with Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP, Pete Wishart MP and Cllr Mike Williamson from neighbouring Perth and Kinross to discuss matters. It appears that a different type of visitor is coming – people set up camp, light fires, make a lot of mess and at the end of the weekend simply get in their car and go home leaving everything behind them including the tent, its contents and the fire which is sometimes still lit. If it hadn’t been so wet recently we could have had wild fires. I’ve also heard stories of livestock and dogs becoming sick because they eat what is left behind. I must thank local people who have organised litter picks or collect litter if they are simply out for their daily walk but I know they are often fighting a losing battle.
She added;“though this is still a minority of visitors it causes real problems for our communities and the authorities.”
Trossachs and Teith Tory councillor Martin Earl said: “I support any campaign that seeks to get a grip of this insidious problem, but let’s be clear councils are going to need Government support to give them the resources needed to enforce penalties properly.”
A Killin Community Council spokesperson said: “We’re extremely grateful to live in a beautiful area of Scotland and we appreciate and welcome all visitors. Unfortunately in this difficult time of recovery from the global crisis, some visitors are showing a great deal of disrespect for their surroundings. Some campers are not only destroying this beautiful countryside when they are leaving their litter, they are destroying the very future of the countryside.
“We fully supports the ‘Don’t Trash our Future’ campaign. Please remember the litter you leave does not just disappear, it is killing the countryside and all the beautiful creatures that you want to see when you visit.”
Susan Holden of Callander Community Council said many members have expressed concern about the issue, which will be discussed at a forthcoming meeting. She said: “Litter and its consequences is impacting seriously on Callander, where a number of unthinking visitors, to both the town and the wider National Park area, are leaving rubbish which is impacting negatively on both the residents and future visitors. Discussions are underway with the various authorities to combat this both now and looking ahead.”
To sign the petition, go to https:// www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/donttrash-our-future/