Cleanliness: Residents' responsibility

I refer to the letters entitled Invasion Of Qawra (August 26).

It has been repeated many times, in various letters in various newspapers, that St Paul's Bay local council allocates Lm120,000 to keep the locality clean.

In a bid to keep the locality clean, apart from door-to-door collection from Monday to Saturday, the council offers a bins-on-wheels service, bulky refuse collection as well as a free-of-charge open skips facility. Furthermore, the council is continuously installing litter bins along the promenade, beaches and various streets.

It is everyone's responsibility to cooperate in the cleanliness of the locality. It is the residents' responsibility to note the hours of door-to-door garbage collection. This service is offered from 7 a.m. and often various residents take out the rubbish whenever it is convenient for them, with the consequence that if the resident misses the collection, refuse has to be collected the day after: This will surely lead to lack of cleanliness. Residents may be responsible enough that if they miss the scammel, they must deposit their refuse bags in the bins-on-wheels located in the vicinity of their residence. There is no excuse that the locality has a lack of service as regards refuse collection.

It is also good for residents to note that if rubbish is dumped or left in private property, the council has no jurisdiction.

Whenever the council receives such complaints, these are channelled to the relative authorities for action to be taken.

Furthermore, it is good for the public to note that in a bid to have a healthier environment, the council is working on the Green Dot initiative whereby waste is to be separated and collected under a special scheme. A pilot project is to be inaugurated within a couple of months.

As for the letter on careless driving, I can assure the writer that reckless drivers, when caught red-handed, are prosecuted. Another letter writer suggested a parking scheme: The Council is working on an exercise regarding this possibility.

As mayor of the locality, my appeal to all temporary and permanent residents is to cooperate and keep the locality clean by abiding to the hours of refuse collection. Anyone unaware of collection time may call at the council office on 2158 5801. I appreciate everyone's cooperation in this regard.