MORE than 50 shopping trolleys were pulled from the canal in Clydebank town centre at the weekend - and the situation has been branded “disgraceful”.

Local politicians condemned those responsible for dumping the trolleys and called for urgent action to halt the “mindless” behaviour.

A shocking image sent to the Post shows 52 trolleys from nearby stores, including ASDA, Home Bargains, TK Maxx, and Smyths Toys, recovered from the Forth and Clyde Canal on Sunday (February 12).

The trolleys were hauled from the water by volunteers at Linnvale Community Group’s (LCG) Greenspace Team, who roll up their sleeves every weekend to litter pick along the canal towpaths, between Duntreath Avenue and Dalmuir Drop Lock.

Stuart Gray, a member of LCG, said the discovery did not come as a shock to him because the group usually recovers 10 trolleys, on average, each week.

Stuart said: “We weren’t really shocked because normally we pull out about ten every week.

“In Clydebank town centre there’s a trolley park right on the corner of the Dunelm car park which is only about 30 yards from the canal and some folk seem to take great delight in just chucking trolleys in.

“There were two sets of five trolleys all linked together and we just weren’t able to get them out of the water. We can push and pull three linked together but even that’s a heck of a job.

“We feel one way to combat this issue would be to have the trolley parks, particularly those down by the canal, cleared of trolleys every evening so that people don’t have the opportunity to put them in.

“We think this is happening mostly in the evenings.

“We contacted ASDA on Sunday about the trolleys and discovered they’re only responsible for collecting them within their own car park, which is adjacent to the store.“Apparently the collection of trolleys out with that area is subcontracted to another company.”

On Sunday, the team made up of three volunteers all over the age of 70, used grappling irons attached to a rope to wrestle the trolleys out of the canal.

Stuart explained that in cases of linked trolleys, tokens are used to try and separate them where possible but in some cases, bolt cutters are necessary to free them.

LCG has been on a mission to clean up the three-mile stretch of canal and towpaths for two years now with the group raising funds last August to install six bins on the route – with an additional one located on Morrison Quadrant.

Stuart told the Post he feels that the bins have made a positive impact on reducing litter in the area but that more needs to be done.

He added: “These [bins] have helped but obviously there’s a real need for many more litter bins to be installed along the canal.

“We’ve seen ducks eating polystyrene, it’s just dreadful to see the birdlife sailing up through garbage.

“A big educational push is also needed to try and get folk to try and stop dropping their litter. They should take it home or take it to a bin, it doesn’t take a lot of effort.”

Marie, McNair, Clydebank’s MSP, said: “I am really disappointed to see this. It’s is a blight on our local environment that needs tackled. I commend the volunteers of the Linnvale Community Group’s Greenspace Team for all that they have done to improve the situation. I thank them for caring so much about our environment and volunteering in the way that they do.

“I will be writing to the council and the shopping centre to highlight my concerns and want to see a concerted effort that deters the kind of behaviour that leads to these trolleys being dumped in the first place.”

Clare Steel, Clydebank Central councillor, branded the number of trolleys dumped in the canal as “disgraceful” and said: “Firstly, I commend the superb work of the Linnvale Community Group and thank them for their outstanding commitment to keeping Clydebank and the surrounding area a cleaner and safer place to live.

“Yet this work would not be needed if a small mindless minority showed an ounce of the respect the LCC show for their local area. The number of trolleys being thrown into the canal with such regularity is disgraceful and I would appeal for anyone with information regarding the people who are doing this contact the police on 101.”

Catherine Gee, deputy CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We have declared a litter emergency.  Our recent research and data has proven this beyond doubt, the simple fact is that 87 per cent of people in Scotland believe our country has a problem with litter.“Litter impacts our wildlife and our natural environment, but it also impacts how we feel about a place, effects our own health and wellbeing and can have a detrimental impact on local economies.

“We are very grateful to all the volunteers across Scotland who tirelessly litter pick to make their neighbourhoods cleaner, greener spaces.  I’d like to thank the volunteers of Linnvale Community Group’s Greenspace Team for their efforts to keep Scotland beautiful.“Our call out is simple – to those who are proud of the country we live in and are frustrated – join us to help combat the problem and support our Spring Clean from 17 March to 17 April.  To those who haven’t worked it out yet – use a bin or take it home. Don’t leave it behind.

“We all need to play our part and change our behaviour, and we are offering support to local groups across Scotland through our Community Clean Up Hubs to take action to tackle litter at a local level, turning anger into action.”

LCG’s Greenspace Team is currently on the lookout for more volunteers to join them on its weekly litter picks.

All equipment and safety gear is supplied. Those interested in sparing two hours on a weekend should contact Stuart Gray on 07810 450419.

Clyde Shopping Centre has been approached for comment.