Councillor says littering fines must be issued more – urgent action needed
Broughty Ferry councillor Craig Duncan has criticized the poor record of Dundee City Council in issuing fines for littering. This comes after a weekend of huge levels of complaints from residents about the littering at Broughty Ferry beach and the Castle Green.
Councillor Duncan asked the council about the number of fines issues over the past couple of years and was advised as follows :
For the fiscal year 23/24, 10 FPNs were issued within the DCC Boundary, one of which was for alleged littering in Broughty Ferry.
For the fiscal year 24/25, 17 FPNs were issued within the DCC Boundary, four of which were for alleged littering in Broughty Ferry.
Cllr Duncan said:
“To be honest given the level of littering not just in Broughty Ferry but across the city, the level of fixed penalty issued for littering is pretty pathetic really. I think the council really has to get the act together on this.”
“I have had lots of complaints about littering in Broughty Ferry at the beach and on Castle Green during recent good weather. Broughty Ferry greatly welcomes visitors and the vast majority of folk responsibly dispose of their litter in bins provided but some folk simply leave a mess – that is totally unacceptable.”
“I have had assurances from environment management at the council that it will be providing increased staff support to tackle the mess which is good but if everyone responsibly disposed of their litter this would not be necessary. A robust penalty notice regime might deter littering in the first place thereby reducing demand for costly extra resources. So the message is loud and clear: please pick up your litter and dispose of it properly.”
“I would add that our local community owes a debt of gratitude to the countless volunteers who help clean up the beach and other parts of the Ferry – for example Plastic Free Broughty Ferry and Broughty Ferry in Bloom. These selfless folk deserve a medal and their public-spiritedness is to be commended.”