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This is a pick up! Highland Council to step up litter patrols at Inverness beauty spot


By Philip Murray

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Merkinch community council chairwoman Dell McClurg and volunteer Chris McDonald are keen for the area to be tidy. Picture: Gary Anthony
Merkinch community council chairwoman Dell McClurg and volunteer Chris McDonald are keen for the area to be tidy. Picture: Gary Anthony

LITTER patrols are to be stepped up at a beauty spot in response to reckless behaviour from some visitors.

Highland Council has confirmed that it will increase bin emptying at South Kessock’s old ferry slipway car park and “conduct checks” in response to the actions of the litterbugs.

It comes after walkers coming to enjoy views of the Beauly Firth were recently greeted by overflowing bins and rubbish left strewn about the car park.

The council said it was already emptying the site’s bins six days a week, and that no problems are usually spotted “during the week or on Saturday morning”, but that they would respond to the recent incidents.

Their pledge echoed the sentiments of Merkinch Community Council chairwoman Dell McClurg, who said part of the problem came from the types of rubbish being disposed of in the bins, and also the actions of gulls, who could reach into them when they were full and drag litter onto the street to scavenge.

She said the site was popular with people coming with takeaway pizza and other fast food, and then dumping the bulky boxes into the bins – jamming them up before they are properly full, and preventing other people from disposing of their rubbish.

And she urged people not to try to ram the pizza boxes into bins that are already close to full, saying it makes it more likely rubbish will later spill out or be dragged out by birds.

She said: “They take it to the car park in their cars, so why not take it home and put it in your own bin?

“People also take cans and bottles down there, drink them and then just chuck it. Why? You carried them there when they were full and you can carry them away when empty.”

She added that the bins might also need modified, either to increase their size, or to fit swing lids so that birds cannot get in.

And she also called for people to think more about where litter ends up after it is dumped.

“They seem to think if they throw a bottle into a hedge the fairies will come and take it away,” she added.

A council spokesman said: “This is a very popular area for people to visit and enjoy, and we very much welcome the message by the community council for people to take litter home.

“In response to the issue highlighted, the council will increase further litter bin emptying in this area at weekends, and conduct checks to confirm any improvement has been made.”

Related news: Dog muck bags and litter at Black Isle beauty spot spark anger and warning


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