A TOUGHER stance is being called for on ‘litter louts’ after new figures revealed the extent of the problem locally.
Data obtained under a Freedom of Information request to Dumfries and Galloway Council on the number of fixed penalty notices locally over the last three years show that:
* 19 people were hit with fixed penalty notices in 2020-21, the same number in 2021-22 while only 16 were issued in 2022-23.
* In Annandale and Eskdale, there were just six penalty notices given out between 2020-23.
* Nithsdale saw ten people hit with notices in 2020-21, five in the following year, while 11 were caught in 2022-23.
* In Stewartry three people received notices with none reported in 2022-23.
* Wigtown had six cases in 2020-21, 12 in the following year, and only one in 2022-23.
The number of incidents where rubbish was discarded from a car also delivered a low response.
In Dumfries and Galloway 13 cases were reported in 2020-21, the same number the following year, and just nine in 2022-23.
Of them, Annandale and Eskdale had four, while Nithsdale had 19; two were in Stewartry and ten in Wigtownshire.
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson says more needs to be done.
He said: “The amount of rubbish strewn along the grass verges on the A75 is shocking and hardly a great advert for tourists visiting the area for the first time.
“Paper, plastic bottles and cans are just being dumped anywhere along rural road verges and, in particular, on the A75.
“The previous administration was clearly not interested in tackling this menace as the number of people hit with fixed penalty notices is alarmingly low. So, why should people be bothered to take their rubbish home to dump it when they can just let it fall to the ground and walk away?”
And he is now calling on the council’s new administration to take a tougher stance against the litter louts.
