Eyesore clean-up fills skip in just 15 minutes
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COOKERS, freezers and sofas were just some of the items found on an area of land that has become known as one of the biggest eyesores in Wick.
Fed-up locals joined forces with the Highland Council this week to clear up the derelict site in Pulteneytown which has become a dumping ground for people’s unwanted items.
The area, which lies between Kinnaird Street and Nicolson Street, has been described as no man’s land by some residents who have complained for years about the state of the area.
Within 15 minutes of beginning the clean-up on Wednesday, volunteers had already managed to fill a council skip and had to call for a second to be delivered. But they fear that unless the land is redeveloped into something that benefits the community, it will become an eyesore once again.
Volunteer Colin Mackay, whose home in Nicolson Street overlooks the area, said that despite clean-ups that had taken place in the past, the problem has kept reoccurring.
“I’ve never seen anyone who has dumped any items in the area during the daytime as it always happens under the cover of darkness,” he said.
“It is not a pleasant sight to live beside, but after a while it gets to the point where people just get used to it. In the summertime when the weeds are growing you don’t notice half the amount that is lying here, it is only during the winter you get the real picture of the amount of dumping that takes place.
“It needs to be redeveloped before people stop dumping because it will still be a no man’s ground after we’ve tidied it up.”
The Highland Council’s community works assistant, Anne MacDonald, agreed it would be great to see the land given a new lease of life.
“It would be lovely if we could follow on from our effort of tidying the mess and turn it into something positive,” she said.
“We have seen a real community effort here to tidy up the area. It could be turned into a lovely place the community could take real pride in.”
Highland Council foreman Graham John said they organised the event after receiving complaints about the mess and hoped their efforts would be recognised and deter future fly-tipping.
“We have seen with volunteers from Pulteneytown’s People’s Project who, despite not being directly affected by the land, have shown real initiative by spreading their wings and trying to make a positive difference in the entire community,” he said.
“We are pleased with the amount of volunteers that have come out to help us and hopefully by highlighting the work they have done it will reduce the issue of fly-tipping in Caithness.”
Volunteers from the PPP’s activity agreement initiative and Pulteney Distillery took part in the clean-up, along with residents.
