A community volunteer claims he was confronted by a Wishaw councillor while leaving bagged rubbish at a bin for collection.
John Smillie’s rubbish removal exploits featured earlier this year on Lanarkshire Live. He is member of McLean Team Alba, a volunteer litter picking group, and recently spent hours tidying a spot used as a drinking den near Old Manse Road in Netherton .
John was placing bagged rubbish beside a litter bin when he claims he was approached by the councillor who thought he was fly-tipping.
“I had 14 bags of rubbish and scrap metal and was bringing the bags over in my wheelbarrow when Councillor Jim Hume appeared with his wife and told me he had to look out his window ‘at all that rubbish’. I told him I would get it uplifted but he started taking pictures of my car and its registration.
“Why would I be fly-tipping in broad daylight and right next to a bin?
“The way he was going on you would think I’d dumped it in his front garden.
“I tried to explain to him but he was too busy yapping to his neighbours about the ‘mess’ lying about. What else are we meant to do with it.”
Helen Boss from the volunteer group has written to the North Lanarkshire SNP group calling for an apology for John and criticised Councillor Hume for his “attitude and lack of awareness”.
“When he confronted John he was wheeling a barrow from the woods to the bin on a main road,” said Helen.
“Is it lack of critical thinking, or just wanting to automatically presume the worst in somebody?
“When John can, he fills his own car and takes it to the tip but there was far too much. He is an absolute litter-picking machine.”
Attempting to explain his own position, Councillor Hume commented on the McLean Team’s social media page but that hasn’t help matters according to Helen.
She continued: “A simple apology would have done so much but instead the councillor came on to our Facebook page and doubled down. I asked if he wanted to offer an apology – but nothing!
“That’s when I decided to make a complaint on behalf of the group. I got a letter back from the SNP and apparently he’s told them it was him who was instrumental in getting the bags lifted, which is a complete load of nonsense.
“I’m not anti-SNP and have probably voted for them most of my life. I'm anti this councillor's attitude. You can’t get away with treating folk like this.”
The response from the SNP claims they are unable to escalate the group's complaint as it’s from a third-party.
“The more I’m dealing with them the more scunnered I’m becoming,” Helen added.
Councillor Hume insists he has nothing to apologise for.
He told the Lanarkshire Live: “My wife and I arrived home and there was a guy with his car boot open with a load of black bags and rubbish. I went over and said to him you can’t leave that there, I live here.
“He didn’t respond very well and was a bit annoyed. He said it wouldn’t be there long and would be getting lifted.
“I said that wasn’t good enough and that I didn’t want it lying there for weeks.
“Eventually he went to his car and I took his picture, as far as I was concerned he was a stranger dumping stuff. He then told me he was part of a group that cleans up. I asked why he hadn’t said that before, told him I was a councillor and could help with getting it picked up.
“The guy was annoyed and not in the least clear with what was happening.
“I’m not apologising because I didn’t do anything wrong.
“When you see a guy with his boot open and about 18 black bags and a load of stuff, what are you supposed to think?”
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