West Dunbartonshire residents are to get a helping hand to spring clean their homes next month after the council announced it was setting up free-to-skips across the area.

The local authority will place community skips at key locations across Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale for 24 hours during two weeks in April.

During the period, locals will be able to dispose of waste from homes and gardens as well as being able to seek advice from onsite officers about a variety of issues including recycling, disposing of rubbish and ways to report flytipping.

The clean-up operation was introduced as part of the Council’s Cost of Living commitments last year, with £50,000 set aside to support community improvements and help dispose of excess rubbish.

Councillor David McBride, convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said: “These skips will be put in place for 24 hours at a time in different areas spread across West Dunbartonshire, giving residents who want to have a clear out or those who already have items to dispose of an opportunity to get rid of them completely free of charge.

“We want our communities not only to be proud of where they live but also to reduce fly-tipping in our area.

"This Spring Clean-up will go some way towards helping us achieve that and if it is a success it could be rolled out again in future.”

Where can I find these skips?

Skips will be deposited between Monday, April 3 and Thursday, April 6, inclusive and again between Tuesday, April 11 and Friday April 14, inclusive.

Items that cannot be placed in the skip include: electrical and white goods, paint, gas canisters, tyres, oils, chemicals, batteries and hazardous waste.

Residents are encouraged to bring their items along to the skip located closest to their home on the allocated day, as detailed below:

Monday 3 April: Braes Avenue, Whitecrook

Tuesday 4 April: Craigielea Rd, Duntocher

Wednesday 5 April: Car park at the Talisman, Onslow Road

Thursday 6 April: Car park adjacent to 22 Crown Avenue

Tuesday 11 April: Gray Street at junction with Steven Street, Alexandria

Wednesday 12 April: Car park near 184 Pappert

Thursday 13 April: Car park near to 325 Braehead

Friday 14 April: Car park at the end of Cumbrae Crescent South, Castlehill

Any additional locations identified during this two-week period will be scheduled for a community skip over the following weekends.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, vice convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, added: “The clean-up has been organised to support residents to dispose of any rubbish properly at a convenient location without the need for an uplift and I would encourage people to spread the word and use these skips.

“The cost of living supports put in place last year are wide-ranging and this earmarked money is being put to good use to ensure our residents see improvements in their local communities and feel a sense of pride about where they live.”