Bin dumped in burn angers anti litter campaign group

The bin was thrown into the Noddle Burn near Aubery Park earlier this month, with the concrete slab on which it stood still attached.

News reader Thomas Somerville sent us a photo of the bin in the burn and described those behind the vandalism as “mindless morons”.

And that’s a view echoed by the man who helped launch the ‘Love Largs’ anti-litter campaign in town two years ago.

Robbie Stevenson said: "This is utterly reprehensible behaviour and very upsetting to see.

Robbie Stevenson described yob behaviour as 'reprehensible' (Image: Newsquest)

"Looking at some of the pictures, it looks like whoever took it away went to quite a lot of trouble to wrench it out of the ground, and quite a lot of effort to drag a litter bin and throw it in.

"It was maybe late night high jinks and seen by the people that did it as funny, but it is not funny. 

"Hopefully by flagging this, even if it is a prank, the people involved will learn that there is no excuse for this when we are trying to make improvements to the town to make it tidy and welcoming.”

Robbie also says that far from leaving local litter campaigners downhearted, he expects the incident will only spur them on.

(Image: Newsquest)

“I think it emboldens the campaign and makes us more resilient and focussed,” he added.

"Sometimes you never get through to some people, but by shaming them through an article like this and highlighting it, I hope the people who were involved see the error in their ways."

The Love Largs campaign was launched two years ago by a sub group of Largs Community Council (LCC), headed by Mr Stevenson.

It saw emoji badges bought and distributed to every pupil at Largs Academy, bought with funding secured through North Ayrshire Council’s participatory budgeting programme.

Largs Academy have embraced anti-litter campaign (Image: Largs Academy)

Stickers and posters have been put up around the town to encourage people to use litter bins and thanking those who dispose of their rubbish responsibly.

Robbie said: "A lot of hard work has gone into our campaign.

"We want Largs to be a bright, happy and welcoming place for everyone. If anything, this incident simply strengthens our belief in how important the Love Largs campaign is, and how we must keep promoting it all over town."