By Lucy Ashton
West Dunbartonshire Council is set to install extra large bins at local beauty spots, after visitors enjoying the recent heatwave left their mark on Balloch Country Park.
However calls have been made for more action – including the introduction of rangers during busy periods, to avoid the park becoming a no-go area for local residents.
Broken glass bottles and litter again blighted areas of the Loch Lomondside venue, whilst graffiti was sprayed on the Slipway Cafe building and a lifebelt ring was pulled from its holder.
Council leader Jonathan McColl, whose ward includes Balloch, told one reporter that bigger bins were in the process of being installed at the park – to cut down on those having to leave rubbish beside overflowing bins, and encourage more people to remove their litter.
He said that the good weather has allowed local people and visitors to enjoy our beautiful open spaces, especially around the loch, and I would like to thank the majority of them who have done everything they can to help keep the place clean and litter free.
Overflowing bins are a blight on Balloch and Loch Lomondside, says Cllrs Jonathan McColl and Sally Page, who are standing for against each other in the upcoming council election.
Cllr McColl maintains that over flowing bins have been a serious problem for some time “which is why in this year’s SNP budget we have specifically set aside an extra £25,000 to purchase 50 extra large bins to replace the current ones”.
Bins will also be emptied more frequently, which I think everyone will agree is something that has long been needed.
Council managers are said to be going through the process of purchasing these bins now and the council hopes to have them delivered soon.
Councillor McColl added that graffiti had been daubed on walls and windows in some areas and was being removed as a matter of urgency, whilst the damaged life ring had already been replaced.
Conservative councillor Sally Page, meanwhile, has called for park rangers to patrol during busy periods, as she said that anti-social behaviour was deterring local people from using the park.
Councillor Page expressed disappointment that the first sunny day should also be the first day that Balloch is expected to put up with poor behaviour.
She is quoted elsewhere as having said: “Litter bins were overflowing with rubbish, beer, spirits and wine and bottles were left, this is in an area where alcohol consumption is banned by council byelaws.
“There was graffiti sprayed on the Slipway Cafe building and some of the benches and tables. Life saving equipment had been tampered with, taken down from the storage hooks and the ropes unwound.
“The council was quick to remove the litter and empty the overflowing bins, however on busy weekends it would be best if possible to empty rubbish throughout the day.”
Cllr Page maintains nothing has changed as regards the infrastructure that is lacking in Balloch – public toilets, campervan facilities, park rangers patrols during the summer holidays and at weekends would improve Balloch for everyone.
“We know local residents feared going to the park on a sunny afternoon last year. This really is not acceptable,” the Conservative councillor who will be standing in Balloch at the local election in May told one journalist.
And would this be the same West Dunbartonshire Council who turn people away from their Dumbarton dump when they turn up in a van or with a small trailer and have not given the council twenty four hours notice of intention to visit.
No wonder recycling rates are going down and fly tipping getting worse.
But just think about it for a moment. Turn up with let us say a mattress or a bit of furniture, in a van and you’re turned away. Insanity, a disincentive to recycling, or the council job creating making life difficult for folks.
And then the current councillors in administration bemoan the soaring landfill costs and reduced recycling.