Group needs help to tidy up Camelon's 'coffin alley' and other litter strewn eyesores

The Our Place Camelon and Tamfourhill project’s community safety engager John Hosie and community coach Dan Rous, who both started in their posts this year, have consulted with residents and one issue kept coming up time and time again.

John said: “Our consultation with the community has been a bit restricted by COVID-19 but we did and online survey that got 161 detailed responses. We haven’t been able to do face to face meetings or group discussions, but one of the biggest problems identified has been littering and people failing to pick up dog excrement.

“Over 80 of the respondents stated dog fouling and littering was a serious concern in the area. It’s a big problem that has exasperated by COVID-19 and the dumps being closed for a time, but it has been a long-standing problem."

So the community group has come up with a campaign entitled Keep Camelon and Tamfourhill Tidy, Clean and Green and has gained support from the Keep Scotland Beautiful environmental charity.

Now they are looking for help from the community to identify the areas in Camelon and Tamfourhill which are most affected by litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling.

John said: “I want people to get in touch with me to point out other locations that have a problem with littering. I want to hear people’s own stories about their own street and if they point out any bad areas I will go and have a look.

"We should be able to make a real difference over time.”

Both John and Dan did not need assistance in finding one of Camelon’s worst eyesores.

Thankfully hidden away from the Main Street, the lane between Pepe’s Piri Piri restaurant and St John’s Church, just of Glasgow Road, is regular dumping ground from everything from sweet and crisp wrappers to kitchen appliances.

“The support from Keep Scotland Beautiful means we can become a community hub in the fight to clean up Scotland and we have also received a lot of equipment like pickers and gloves,” said John.

However the Keep Camelon and Tamfourhill Tidy, Clean and Green is about more than just engaging in litter picks and cleaning up the mess made by others who are less considerate.

“It’s about different groups doing different things,” said John. “Schools, youth groups, churches and local businesses can support what we are trying to do. We don’t just want to clean these areas up we want to make them sustainable.

“We want to start growing projects, planting seeds and wild flowers. We could even grow vegetables in some areas.”

There are even plans to have businesses, like the aforementioned Pepe’s, sponsor a bin outside their premises for people to place their rubbish instead of dropping it.

Call John on 07391524528 or visit www.opcamelontamfourhill.co.uk or www.facebook/opcamelontamfourhill for more.

Find out more about the Our Place Camelon and Tamfourhill project