Saturday 18th May from 10am – 1pm
Tag: environmental wardens
Stay safe: Environmental wardens issue bonfire advice
Guy Fawkes Night can be a lot of fun, but the build up to the big night can all too often bring fear and misery to communities too. North Neighbourhood Environmental Wardens team leader MARK BANNON offers some seasonal advice:
Advice from the SFRS is to attend a safely organised bonfire and firework display.
However if you must have a bonfire at home make sure it is well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds and you must ensure that smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or flying embers endanger neighbouring property.
• Never drink alcohol if you are tending a bonfire or setting off fireworks – remember it is an offence to consume alcohol in a public place.
• To reduce the emission of harmful smoke and combustion products bonfires should comprise of untreated wood and paper based materials only.
• There is a danger of explosion from pressurised containers or sealed vessels amongst bonfire material or irresponsibly thrown on burning bonfires.
• Never throw fireworks on bonfires.
• Never use flammable liquids to ignite bonfires – use proprietary fire lighters.
• Smoke from bonfires must not pose a public nuisance, affect visibility on roads or otherwise inconvenience vehicular traffic.
• Sparks, flying embers or burning debris must not endanger nearby property.
• Never leave a burning/smouldering bonfire unsupervised – make sure it is completely extinguished.
Any bonfire failing to satisfy safety conditions or where people are behaving irresponsibly may be deemed dangerous and as such, subject to being either removed, extinguished or otherwise made safe.
If you are aware of a bonfire being built on public land, you should report it to North Local Office 0131 529 5066. All bonfires built on public land will be investigated .
Monday 3 November
Please do not present excess domestic waste in view of the potential outcomes during the forthcoming bonfire night. You are also ,likely to receive a penalty notice from the environmental wardens
Tuesday 4/Wednesday 5 November
Please remove all domestic wheeled bins back into the curtilage of your property.
Mark Bannon
Team Leader Environmental Wardens, Services for Communities
North Neighbourhood Office, 8 West Pilton Gardens
Mark.bannon@edinburgh.gov.uk
0131 529 7450
No joke as litter louts are hit by higher fines
People dropping litter or flytipping in Scotland risk being hit with higher financial penalties from today (1 April).
The rise in Fixed Penalty Notices will see those caught littering face an £80 penalty; while those flytipping could be £200 worse off. The move follows a public consultation, which supported tougher penalties for anyone who doesn’t bin their waste or damages our environment by flytipping.
The penalty increase comes ahead of the Scottish Government’s National Litter Strategy – the first since devolution, which will be published later this year alongside the Scottish Marine Litter Strategy.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets and we must do everything we can to keep it clean and litter-free. It is easy to do the right thing and put your litter in the bin – there really is no excuse for littering.
“Tackling litter and flytipping costs us a staggering £78 million every year. It’s impacting our economy, looks terrible and in some cases is affecting public health – none of us wants to see a litter-strewn environment; be it rural or urban. It’s up to all of us to take responsibility for this problem and I’d encourage everyone in Scotland to take their litter home, recycle it or find a litter bin.”
Cllr Stephen Hagan, COSLA’s Development, Economy and Sustainability Spokesperson commented: “Litter and its effects have significant costs to both communities and councils. Local authorities are committed to working with their communities and partners to reduce the negative impacts of litter and flytipping, and fixed penalty notices are one of a number of ways in which behaviour change can be encouraged.
“The increase from a £50 to £80 penalty for littering had strong support through the National Litter Strategy consultation and councils will seek only to use this increased financial penalty when other avenues of education and prevention have failed to stop those individuals who not only flout the law but also the efforts of the wider community to keep Scotland clean, tidy and litter-free.”
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Drylaw sees the big picture
Drylaw now has it’s own public big TV screen. The high-tech equipment was installed last night and community leaders believe the big screen will attract new visitors to the area.
A spokesman for Drylaw Telford Community Council said: “Although it’s not as large as we were promised we accept that money is tight and are delighted that the council has agreed to locate a big screen in Drylaw. Drylaw has really needed this for a long time – we don’t think it’s right that the city centre gets everything, Edinburgh is more than Princes Street, the Bridges and Lothian Road. Now local people will be able to gather together in their own community to watch major sporting events and Strictly Come Dancing – it will help generate a new community spirit and will become a talking point, a bit like the Angel of the North. I’m convinced tourists will flock to Drylaw.”
A council spokesperson said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is often accused of wasting council tax payers money on expensive vanity projects like education and roads. This exciting initiative clearly demonstrates that this council is listening to communities.”
EDRA action to target Drylaw dog fouling
EDRA (Easter Drylaw Residents Association) members, supported by Environmental Wardens, are planning two Days of Action to tackle dog fouling in our local area. We will be handing out leaflets and speaking to as many people as possible.
Anyone who would like to come along & support this initiative are very welcome – see details below:
Friday 23 August:
10am – Noon: In & around Drylaw Shopping Centre; meet at 10am outside the Key Store.
2pm – 4pm: In and around the Green Space at ED Gardens.
Monday 26 August:
10am-Noon: Morning Walkabout – meet at 10am Easter Drylaw Way/Bank.
2pm – 4pm: In and around Easter Drylaw Park. Meet beside the CEC notice board at the Park/Easter Drylaw Drive.
Mhairi Curran, Easter Drylaw Residents Association
