Slap the litter pests with £5000 fine if they mess with us
MP DEMANDS ACTION AFTER PARK IS TRASHED Calls for higher penalties for leaving rubbish
An MP is demanding fines for littering in Scotland be increased to £5000.
Alyn Smith, whose Stirling constituency covers the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, has made the call in response to fury at rubbish left by day-trippers.
He has written to Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf outlining his proposals for higher penalties af ter it emerged 21 people charged would only face maximum fines of £ 500.
He said: “Stirling is the beautiful heart of Scotland and everyone is welcome but littering and f ly-tipping is a massive problem and the existing laws are not tough enough. What we have seen in the national park area in recent weeks is nothing short of appalling.
“To see tents left behind, sleeping bags abandoned, general litter strewn across woodland and trees destroyed by fire is heartbreaking and is the behaviour of a minority of people that should not get away with behaving like this.
“By- laws are in place to tack le s ome of this behaviour and the Scottish Government has recently committed to tougher action on fly-tippers.
“The current penalties do not appear to deter some people from treating our outdoors with complete disregard and I fear it will get worse as summer progresses.
“I want to see the powers that authorities have already taken toughened to urge those who would otherwise leave litter behind to take it away.
“Not everyone who litters should have to face a maximum £ 5000 penalty but the option for tougher fines should be available to address some of the larger-scale damage that can be caused by their reckless behaviour.
“Just as a fly-tipper can face a fine of up to £ 40,000, so too must people who damage our environment face tough justice.
“My message to people visiting the Stirling area is simple – you’re welcome to visit, we want you to come. But, when it comes to litter, if you can bring it, you can take it away with you.”
Smith’s call comes after just 21 people were charged with a series of local by-law offences in the national park, including littering and causing damage to woodland.
The incidents were raised by SNP MSP Bruce Crawford at First Minister’s Questions.
Police confirmed that those charged face a maximum penalty of £500 if found guilty.
The A821 in the Trossachs was closed by police yesterday after scores of visitors parked dangerously at the Duke’s Pass, near Ben A’an. Locals said they lifted 30 bags of litter at the site.