Dear Spurtle,
The streetscape in the Broughton and Bellevue areas of Edinburgh is in a parlous state.
The streets and road gullies in this largely residential area of a world-class city are dirty, strewn with litter, spillages from communal dustbins, leaves and detritus. Residents now enjoy the delightful display of ankle-high weeds growing out of footpaths and road gullies throughout the neighbourhood. On top of this, we all contend with broken and uneven paving stones in the locality.
It is manifestly plain that the City Council does not have a systematic plan for maintaining a satisfactory level of street cleaning. The way the service is currently organised, executed and delivered is failing us all and requires immediate revision in the light of the lived experiences of those who foot the Council Tax bill.
I was very impressed with how spotlessly clean the Royal Mile was by 7.30am each morning when the late Queen was lying in state in St. Giles'. If the Council can manage to keep the Royal Mile clean for royalty, why are they incapable of doing the same for those of us who pay the Council Tax year in year out.
I had such high hopes for improvements in street cleaning and the streetscape when Labour gained control of the City Council in the last local-government elections, only to be disappointed. Nothing changes!
I have decided to organise a residents' petition in my street and to present this to the Leader of the Council. I would strongly encourage all good Spurtle readers to do likewise.
If the Council cannot keep the streets clean, what can it do? It is a poor do! Time for change (as Labour likes to say), I think so.
Shane Carter
East Claremont Street
NOTE: If you wish to add your name to the petition (see wording below), email:
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