Graffit and grass cutters. Methven Place.

Here is two problems. First graffiti on the rear of Methven Place lockups, which is in full view of train passengers. But it does not take much imagination to see that there are areas such as this which would benefit from being planted with brambles or thorn bushes to keep vandals away from the walls. The whole banking area needs to be planted, much more useful than the neglected eyesore beds we have elsewhere!

We can also see where the kamikaze grass cutters tear along the bank slipping and causing ruts, really unnecessary and nonsense.

Hog weed

This has been reported a month ago but has now been made much worse by a grass machine plowing through here and leaving stumps behind which are oozing sap which is what is dangerous about this plant. The sap is what causes blister and lesions on any one who comes into contact. Many young kids and pets pass here every day. Most people are not aware of the danger this plant presents. A neighbours dog had a piece of this in his mouth as I passed this morning. He was not aware of the danger and was distressed when I told him his dog might become ill, I will keep in touch with him.

Why is it a problem?

Giant Hogweed presents a serious public health threat, the stems and leaves are covered with small hairs coated with poisonous sap. Even the slightest touch can cause painful blisters and severe skin irritation. The symptoms can take a couple of days to develop, the skin becomes highly photosensitive producing large watery blisters however the effects can be long lasting, with contact resulting in recurrent dermatitis. This is a particular concern for small children who may use the stems as pea-shooters or pretend telescopes resulting in horrific injuries.

It is a threat to biodiversity out competing native species and monopolising local environments. On riverbanks once it has died back in the winter the area is vulnerable to erosion.

It is scheduled in the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Play area

Play area between Methven and Burnbrae West Mains. This play area is hazardous and a health and safety issue for children and has been for years. The surface is uneven broken weed infested concrete slabs that are being run over and broken and moved by council machinery. It is used at night by al fresco drinkers who then smash their bottles before leaving. And then on school days it is used as an eating area by local school kids who leave their packaging behind.

This play area is sadly in need of repair upgrading and much more intensive maintenance. A litter picker walked straight past this morning and picked up nothin. Broken glass is swept up by an old lady from Burnbrae.

The council are guilty of wanton neglect and a failure to maintain their duty of care to this community with their disregard of HSE legislation.

Burnbrae

This is Burnbrae Place which has been blighted, first by excessive lockups which were disused due to no maintainenance and vandalism and then demolished after being burned out. The remains of the foundations were just left and has been this way for 12 years or more. Why can this area not be given an upgrade, and why can we not have graffiti removed please.











Here we have more graffiti which has been here for a year or more, I thought SLC had a negative tolerance policy on this.

Graffiti, weed choked beds, and damaged and cracked paths.

Here we can see a small snap shot of three problems that blight the area. dmaged pathway, Weed choked shrub beds and graffiti. See it here.

Health and safety and amenity.

Why is it that we in this area of West Mains are expected to accept lower health and safety and standards of amenity than the rest of the town in particular the area around the civic centre?

We pay through the nose for council services, at the moment I pay £30 per week and were it not for the present government in Holyrood that would be nearer £50 per week. it is a bloody disgrace, when you measure the level of service and lack of amenity due mostly to council neglect and incompetence.

For example take one item the shrub beds laid out a few years ago at God knows what cost, so that the officials could boast we have spent £Godknows on amenity improvements in Westmains in the past ? months. These beds are now so choked with weeds and neglected that they have them selves now become an eyesore. So all that money should have been put to much better use repairing the cracked and damaged pathways and paving instead of cosmetic bawbaggery that is now a disgrace. Much of that damage is caused by council machinery, as nothing now can be done by hand or utilising human leg power to access an area.

On a recent trip to the town centre I noticed the shrub and flower beds were being forked over and de-weeded expertly and the plants are in fine order, of course it is within sight of the Forbidden City of the Civic Centre.

Apparently though the operatives who are supposed to maintain the shrub and flower beds in this area are not able to use digging forks or bend down to gather weeds, they just strim the mud in the wet rainy weather and then blast weed killer every where maybe once evry two years.

The following photographs are a reminder of a small part of the problems I am blogging about. These complaints will also be posted on Fix My Street, along with the many outstanding issues, and e-mailed to councillors.