WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE councillors are to work in partnership with other environmental groups to tackle the growing problem of litter across the local authority.

A motion presented at a full council meeting last week by Conservative councillor Sally Page called for better collaboration to address the litter problem while working with the National Park, Transport Scotland and Scottish Enterprise.

It is hoped that the move will increase education to encourage young people to look after the environment.

The motion read: “The council agrees that while we are reviewing our waste and recycling operations, it is appropriate to consider alongside this work how we can improve our litter strategy, and the report should give members recommendations to achieve this aim.

“This would include how to work more effectively with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and how to make better use of the Community Payback team in helping address this problem.

“It will also revise how litter prevention is taught in schools and consider if the council need to invest more in addressing this issue.”

Council leader Jonathan McColl pointed out that the authority already has a litter strategy.

His addendum to the motion, committing the council to a review of that strategy, was accepted.

Community Party councillor Jim Bollan sought, and received, confirmation that no council workers’ jobs would be lost if and when the community payback team was deployed to help keep the area litter-free.

Following the meeting, Councillor Page said: “There has been a steady increase in littering across Scotland over the last 10 years.

“It is damaging for the environment and unpleasant for us all.

"Since people have been spending more time in their local area the problem of litter has become more apparent, so now is the time to make positive changes.

"People want to feel good about where they live and have a sense of civic pride.

“West Dunbartonshire Council spends £2 million per annum on street cleaning, tidying of greenspace and fly tipping; they do a great job but are unable to get on top of the increase in litter.

“As residents of West Dunbartonshire we can transform our local areas at a very low cost, by boosting what the council already does.”

“I call upon fellow councillors, community groups to take the lead, when restrictions allow, and make West Dunbartonshire a cleaner place to live, work and enjoy.”