Monday 1 June 2009

Litter on Magdalen Green

As reported in today's 'Courier', over the weekend, I was contacted by residents who were angry at the litter mess on Magdalen Green had been left in by some people picnicking on the Green in the warm weather.

The Green was a fair mess, particularly on Saturday morning, and although the majority of people using the Green in the good weather were very responsible, unfortunately there’s a minority who appear not to care and left the green covered in litter. I think everyone likes to see Magdalen Green well used by people as it’s a lovely place to visit, but we would ask that all act responsibly and pick litter up behind them.

One resident contacted me to express his concern in the following terms :

"I am utterly shocked and disgusted at the rubbish strewn liberally around Magdalen Green. This is an ongoing problem exacerbated by the recent good weather when groups of irresponsible people bring their food and drink to the Green and abandon all thought as to cleaning up afterwards. I have seen it time and time again as a resident overlooking the Green.

"I of course have no objection to people using the Green for leisure activities such as this. There are in fact barbecues provided. Unless however there is a curb to this sort of irresponsibility, I am afraid it will continue to spoil the joy of the Green for the residents and the majority of people using it.

"The area around the bandstand this morning looks like a public dumping ground and there are numerous plastic bags blown into the fencing next to the railway yard."

I had recently asked the City Council’s Leisure and Communities Department for more litter bins – particularly at the south side of the Green – and bigger ones as I feel the current litter bins are too small to cope with the amount of litter.

The response from the Council on 14th May was that they said they were continuing to “monitor” the litter situation on the Green and, in response to the request for more litter bins, I was told ‘we are conscious that finance is still tight at the moment.’

I have now written again to the City Council saying that more litter bins are vital, that the cleaning regime over warm weekends needs looking at again and there’s a need for better attention to the Green in terms of park rangers’ time.

It is great to see Magdalen Green being well-used but residents’ complaints about the litter mess are very valid and I am hoping for a positive response from Dundee City Council to their concerns.

Above : Some of the litter mess on the Green on Saturday morning


Above : One of the many overflowing bins earlier this morning - rather proving the point about the need for more - and larger - bins on the Green