Pensioners v polluters

Sir, – I am inspired to put pen to paper by your articles about Broughty Ferry beach on May 29 and 30. And I know my subject, living only a few metres from the dunes.

I too was disgusted by the mess left by a minority of visitors over the bank holiday – probably by the “sans culottes avec tattoos” type, judging by the bottles of vodka, cans of beer, disposable barbecues, crisps etc.

I suppose it is another indication of the state of our education system and of our council services.

In spite of the clear message from Blue Planet 2, we seem to be moving faster in the wrong direction. With the sea full of plastic, as well as our beaches, we are increasing the number of litter pickers and recycling collections, aren’t we? No. We are reducing both, due to the incompetent way we are governed by both Westminster and Holyrood.

Over the winter, I removed more than 100 sacks of plastic and other litter from the esplanade and beach. I have rarely seen a council worker do more than simply empty the bins.

As we have failed to educate the vandals, it seems to me we need a new environmental service, staffed by burly, shaven-headed wardens

accompanied by powerful Alsatians with the power to force litter louts to clear up.

Returning to the council I am again witnessing the insanity of grass cutters on their machines chopping the litter into bits to help it on its way to the sea. Crazy and wrong.

I have long thought that we need a “polystyrene supper tax” on fast food outlets, the money to be paid to councils to clear up the mess. It cannot be right for volunteers such as myself, aged 74, to find so much to do. Jack Greenway. The Esplanade, Broughty Ferry.