Hogmanay litter louts blasted by community council - 'shocking and disgusting' mess included broken glass, fast food boxes, cans and vomit

At a meeting of community councillors on Monday evening, the state of Wick's town centre streets after Hogmanay revelling was discussed.

The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) chairperson Joanna Coghill described the "shocking and disgusting" mess around Market Square as an "issue that the public should be aware of".

"The mess of the Market Square on New Years Day [was] absolutely shocking and disgusting," she told the paper.

Mrs Coghill said that a fellow RBWCC member, Alastair Ferrier, had been walking his dog on New Year's Day when he came across the debris and contacted his colleagues on the community council. Armed with brushes and shovels, a number of the councillors descended on the town centre to help clear the rubbish.

"[There were] cans, takeaway boxes, broken glass, all sizes of alcoholic beverage bottles, glasses and overturned rubbish bins, also vomit, discarded fast food items and a broken window up Woollies Lane," said the RBWCC chair. "What I witnessed was the worst I have ever seen."

She said that it was "no reflection at all" on the various licensed premises there as they are obliged to clean up outside their doorways when they lock up for the night.

"I am going to assume this mess was due to celebrations once all pubs had closed. It took time for us to clear up, and point out the large amounts of broken glass to those who were out walking to be careful."

Mrs Coghill added: "I have been down that area on many occasions at the weekends, tending to floral tubs with my Flower Committee member hat on, and it is discouraging the mess we come across." She said it was "extremely disappointing" especially as there are many bins and recycling bins situated in the Market Square "in plain sight".

"How can people just party like that and chuck their rubbish, their mess, and not give a toss as to who has to clean up after them, or think about those walking through the area who may fall, or dogs being walked?

"It's your mess, be responsible, be mindful and think of others. There are so many volunteers in Wick who are all doing their bit for the town but to see the mess left is very unfair and totally unnecessary."

Alastair Ferrier said that apart from the load of cans, bottles and plastic cartons the RBWCC litter pickers cleared up, there were a number of mini trees that had "been ripped out their pots and dumped in the street".

Members of the RBWCC were also involved in clearing up some of the vandalism, recently reported in the paper, with spray paint cleared from buildings by the volunteers. "This is something that we do not see often, thankfully, and hopefully will not see again.," said Mrs Coghill.

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