|
Click here to return to
the Press Release Index
17th March 2008
Alex Johnstone Is Calling For A Zero Tolerance Approach
Towards Low Level Anti social Behaviour In The Mearns
 North
East Tory MSP Alex Johnstone is calling for a zero tolerance
approach towards low level anti social behaviour in the
Mearns.
Mr Johnstone said "Time and time again, I am
approached by people complaining about dog fouling, litter
dropping and other types of anti social behaviour, and
judging from this anecdotal evidence the trend seems to be
on the rise."
"With the prospect of warmer weather
approaching, and with it an increase of visitor numbers to
the area, I am not alone in being concerned at the visual
impact that discarded litter and cigarette ends has on our
amenities. It is not as if there are no bins for people to
use, it simply seems that some people can't be bothered to
use them. We live in one of the most beautiful areas of
Scotland with an enviable history, and to thoughtlessly marr
it with rubbish in this way is just unacceptable."
"Likewise those people who choose not to
clean up after their dogs. Not everyone who walks their dog
in the Mearns countryside is a tourist so that would suggest
to me that the majority of people who fail to abide by their
legal responsibility are still local."
"It is time that those who think it is
acceptable to behave in this way took a bit more pride in
where they live and cleaned up after themselves. I believe
we should have a zero tolerance approach to the kind of low
level anti social behaviour that blights our environment.
Incentive schemes such as the 'bin it and win it' scheme
used by Aberdeenshire Council in Fraserburgh a couple of
years ago certainly help, but where people persist in
dropping litter and not cleaning up after their dogs, then
there should be no hesitation in fining them for it."
"I believe that a zero tolerance approach,
added to more education about the effects of littering,
would do much to enhance civic pride in the Mearns and make
it an even more attractive place to be."
In conclusion, Mr Johnstone said "One aspect
of this whole thing that many people seem to forget is that
when Aberdeenshire Council is obliged to spend money
cleaning the streets, this deprives other front line
services of much needed cash. I want people to think about
that before they simply dump litter at their feet."
|
