Cleaning up the streets

Police officers teamed up with local residents last week in a major clean-up of the Hillhead area of Kirkintilloch.
Some of the litter cleared during the cleanupSome of the litter cleared during the cleanup
Some of the litter cleared during the cleanup

New community link officer for Hillhead, PC Adam Irvine and colleague Steve Shanks joined forces with the volunteers, including local firm AMK Self Drive who donated a van on Wednesday to uplift mounds of rubbish dumped in gardens.

Hillhead Housing Association, Zero Waste and East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action also lent their support to the day of action.

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PC Irvine said he and local action groups had been working closely with people since he took over his new post in February to tackle a wide range of issues aimed at making the area a cleaner, safer and better 
place to live.

He said: “A big concern of many residents has been the unsightly issue of excessive amounts of household waste in private gardens.”

The area has a high level of unemployment and many people had found themselves unable to pay £20 for the council to uplift large items such as mattresses.

Constable Irvine said: “There were some residents who although willing, were not in a position to be able to clear their gardens.

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“A.M.K Self Drive of Canal Street in Kirkintilloch kindly donated the use of a van to enable them to do so.

“This was a great piece of partnership working in the local community. I was highly impressed by the levels of commitment and effort residents went to in clearing up their gardens. By positively engaging with residents as opposed to looking to enforcement options, I hope to continue and expand the good work already carried out by the Hillhead residents”.

Andrew McKinnon owner of AMK said “We were delighted to be able to help out the local community with their project. As a local business it was great to see people taking pride 
in the area.”

New area commander Chief Inspector Craig Smith said: “I am heartened to see this excellent example of how partner agencies and the community have come together to make a positive impact. This underpins my belief and commitment to a community based approach to policing. “I will continue to promote, develop and support similar good work as I move forward.”