Litter problems is far more widespread

Sir, I read the front-page news last week about the state of the Pulpit Hill viewpoint (‘ Viewpoint is littered with rubbish’, The Oban Times, July 27) and feel I should add a little more to this sorry tale.

Not only is Pulpit Hill a rubbish dump, but it is Oban’s premier tourist attraction. McCaig’s Tower is likewise. It helps, of course, that most of the drinking and eating fraternity lob their detritus over the edge of the viewing platform, where it is not so readily seen, though the holiday-makers can gaze down upon it while they take pictures of the view. Dumping, unfortunately, is not limited to rubbish, as the kind person who used the word in a slightly different sense on my garden path recently will know.

Many of our visitors make their way up to the tower via the steps of Jacob’s Ladder, where they will be able to take note of more offerings from the generous drinkers of the town. The two seats at the top end provide excellent comfort for the carry- out brigade, who frequently drop their bottles, cans and polystyrene boxes directly beneath their feet.

The more thoughtful among them toss the rubbish over the fence, of course, where it lies hooked up in the undergrowth until wind and weather washes it down to join the many years’ supply behind the wall of the distillery. This is only seen during the winter when tourists are few, so I suppose it might seem not to matter.

The broken railings and stonework pulled out of the wall remain behind one of the seats where they were left many months ago. A call to the council, advising of this mess and the dangers of rusty, broken metal remains unanswered. Let’s hope that some innocent child doesn’t tear his or her cheek on the rusty spikes.

I’ll not bring up the subject of the Black Lynn, the Hydro, the back of the Corran Halls or anywhere else in the town where rubbish is regularly recycled. Maybe the police should patrol some of these places too. I must end by thanking those loyal citizens who take the trouble to clear up some of the litter dropped by so many thoughtless people.

Do we really welcome visitors to Oban or would we prefer that they went elsewhere? Maurice Wilkins, Laurel Road, Oban.