‘ We’re being ignored’: Residents slam council

GLASGOW residents living at the edge of the city feel the streets are much cleaner in another nearby local authority, according to a councillor.

Kyle Thornton, who represents the Newlands/ Auldburn ward, has reported incidences of fly- tipping at Burnfield Road and Barrmill Road in Thornliebank to Glasgow City Council.

He said: “It’s across the whole area, and if I’m honest it’s been like this since March, but it has just got worse. I have seen little sign of improvement.

“We are on the edge of the city, so people feel as if Glasgow City Council is ignoring them.

“If they take a few steps into East Renfrewshire, the streets are clean – being on the other side of the local authority is so much different.”

The councillor says the fly- tipping is a mix of people wilfully dumping items as well as residents mistakenly thinking a bulk uplift service is running.

He added: “What’s concerning for me is the council doesn’t seem to be bothering about getting a bulk uplift service back and tackling the issue of fly- tipping.

“We need this service back and to get serious about punishing the people who are wilfully dumping.

“The places in which fly- tipping is happening seems to be the same over and over again, so what can we do to deter people from dumping in these places? We need to regenerate these bits of spare land.

“People see bits of ground and think no- one will care; we need to deter them from being a fly- tipping hotspot.

“There is waste dump e d e v e r y - w h e r e a c r o s s the city and council staff are not getting the resources to get out and deal with it.

“We are months on but no sign of it getting better. The council have no force of will to get tough on fly- tipping.

“It’s exasperating. People take pride in where they live.”

A council spokesman said: “Bulk uplifts were suspended prior to lockdown spare as it allowed us to focus on the services we are legally obliged to provide such as general waste.

“The controls designed to suppress the virus, such as restrictions on staff within vehicles and offices, have also been a significant challenge to delivering services during lockdown. “Agreement between the various stakeholders has still to be confirmed on how more staff can safely travel within the same vehicle, which will increase our capacity to deliver non- statutory services such as bulk uplifts.

“But we are hopeful the bulk uplift service can resume in the near future.

“We are very grateful for the patience shown by the vast majority of people who have worked with us throughout the pandemic and we have removed fly- tipping whereever possible.

“Our household waste recycling centres are now open seven days a week for Glasgow residents to dispose of large items in person.”