NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY
A nightingale may have sung in Barclay Square, but it’s seagulls and pigeons which squawk and squat in Knoxland Square in Dumbarton East.
And they are given every encouragement to do so by the binmen from West Dunbartonshire Council who must operate the rules and regulations they receive from their bosses with a distainful response along the lines of “one word from them and we do what we like”.
Bins are a big issue in West Dunbartonshire. Complaints about whether they meet the criteria decided on by the gauleiters in Church Street, who surpass themselves not just often but frequently in the way council services are run.
Resident Claire McDade made her point with a picture to accompany her remarks: “State of bins just after 6am this morning. Apparently they thought it be a great idea to bring everyone’s bins along Knoxland Square, then leave them directly below my son’s bedroom at this time. Waking him up with all banging around. Absolute joke.”You would think the Council would excel on matters to do with rubbish and waste since they are so famliar with the stuff in their own work.
But they’re a joke when it coms to making rules and regulations, especially when it comes to bins.
And it shows in their Complaints Column where one of the employees entrusted with answering the telephone – when you can get through – is on a package of £129,000 a year.
And the public who are invited to contact them have taken to treating them as a joke, although not a very funny one.
One of the multitude of council taxpayers is Trish Miller who told them tongue in cheek when the sun came out at last on Sunday: “Take the day off Stephen. Go up the park and sunbathe. Everything can be fixed tomorrow.”
Craig Denver followed that up with this: “Stephen will probably get battered up the park from the teenagers who will be getting steaming up there today.”
Steven Long hit the nail on the head when he quipped: “Teenagers will ask Stephen a question and he will reply: Thank you, I have passed this on to the relevant team. …”
For those of you who have never waited in a long queue to have your complaint dealt with – the average must be around 100 residents a week – that is typical of the reply you will receive.
It comes under the heading of “Passing the Buck” and I note from some complainers that they never get any kind of answer at all.
The Council should have an answering machine message which tells people: “It wisnae us. That’s nothin’ to do with me.”
Dumbarton Hastle is a regular contributor to the Complaints column, despite the fact that he gets not much change out of the Council.This week he wrote: “Hi Stephen, I haven’t heard from you in a while. Have you been off sick with the stress of this page? “Anyway let’s get down to business , every time I ask Pauline or Amanda the same question they never answer me. I am asking who is responsible for the £6 million overspend on the track and sports complex at Posties Park? A reply would be greatly appreciated.”
Trish Miller wrote: “Dumbarton Hastle I’ll let you into a secret but don’t tell. They’re all the same person. They decide their identity on the day.”
Davie Kay said Posties is “still shut to the public so bills still rising.”
Then someone asked: “Have you submitted an FOI request?” This can take weeks or months to get an answer back.
John Malley then asked: “When did Dumbarton High Street become a carpark?”
Jim Fraser told him: “It doesn’t help that 50% of the parking spaces have vanished at the Riverside with the construction site taking up two full parking bays , then all the workmen’s vans taking up another one?”
Ellen Kennedy told John Malley: “This happens every day. The pavement is all messed up with cars and vans parking on it. I have reported to community police team, [but it is] still happening.”
And Anne Gibson said: “Driving along High St is a joke, I avoid it as much as possible.”
At last, we had a legitimate complaint rather than an observation.
Bearberry McQueen put the Complaints Column to good use when he said: “West Dunbartonshire Council HSCP have announced plans to close Work Connect. A Specialised Supported Employability Service that supports individuals with learning disabilities, mental health, addictions and autism in employment and provides skills based training and barrier removal for those looking to get into employment.
“Please find attached the petition which has more information: *Please remember to verify your email to make sure your signature is added* https://chng.it/C6fLbnD8sV”
And Linda Andrews backed her: “They have found 100 grand for five weeks activities for children during the summer holidays. I think this is not a way to spend our taxpayers money when they are cutting jobs left right and centre.”
Corrina Lacey’s parting shot was this: “I have heard that bin collections are going to three weekly but not seen any communication about it. Where has it been communicated?”
Perhaps we’ll hear about it [eventually] in the Complaints Column.
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Bins again. Comparison with way things are down down the Firth. Do you need a second green bin ?
Cove & Kilcreggan Community Council
Argyll & Bute Council Green Bin Collection Consultation:
Consultation on second green bin collections
We are looking for your views on the collection of second green bins from some households that meet certain criteria.
We want to recycle as much of our waste as possible. Reducing the amount of waste going to landfill saves money, helps protect the council services you use and, through re-use and recycling, is climate-friendly.
The council provides different options for waste and recycling. You can find out more about arrangements in your area on our website.
Second blue bins, for recycling plastic, paper, cartons, tins etc, are available free to households. We provide second green bins for general waste in certain circumstances, namely if:
There are five or more people in your household
The household has children in nappies
Someone in your household has a medical condition which means more waste is generated
Please tell us what you think about current arrangements for second green bins, and any changes we could make in the future to help us recycle more, in our short survey –
Tell us your views on second green bin collections https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/…/consultation-second…
Consultation dates
Thu, 3 Apr 2025 – 12:00 – Thu, 15 May 2025 – 17:00
argyll-bute.gov.uk
Consultation on second green bin collections | Argyll and Bute Council
We are looking for your views on the collection of second green bins from some households that meet certain criteria.