Glasgow City Council, fed up with clearing up free leaflets and publicity flyers handed out to shoppers or clubbers, is planning a crackdown on the distributors.
Councillor David Stevenson, executive member for environmental protection services, has written to the city’s licensing board, asking members to support efforts to clean up the city’s streets. He wants the board to write to city centre and West End licensed holders, outlining the litter problems caused by flyers promoting ‘freshers’ student events.
Cllr Stevenson wants venues to stop using this kind of advertising and use alternative methods such as websites – with fresher’s week due to start around 17 September.
Glasgow enforcement officers recently issued two individuals with £50 fixed penalties for causing hundreds of bright yellow leaflets from a licensed venue to be scattered over shopping precincts and around George Square.
‘The council wouldn’t have to spend £17M of its budget picking up litter if people acted more responsibly,’ said Cllr Stevenson.