Campaign posters are set to be plastered on lampposts across West Dunbartonshire ahead of May's council elections despite concerns regarding environmental impact.
A motion brought before full council on Wednesday by council leader SNP councillor Jonathon McColl asked members to permit political posters on public street furniture for all future elections including this year’s local government election.
And despite concerns about their impact it was narrowly approved - making West Dunbartonshire only the fourth council areas in Scotland to allow the practice.
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Posters can be displayed from April 1 each election year and must be down no later than two weeks after polling day.
It comes following the decision to allow political posters to be implemented on “street furniture'' in the run up to the Scottish Government elections one year into the Covid-19 pandemic.
Labour members argued against the decision, saying it would create plastic waste in the middle of a climate emergency.
Councillor Lawrence O’Neil said:“The council leader has just alluded to the previous decision as a one off during covid to highlight the Scottish parliamentary elections.
“As it stands only three of 32 local authorities permit political posters - the Shetlands, the Highlands and the Western Isles. That tells you a big story about how the public see them and how local authorities have to deal with them.
“In a climate emergency and an effort to meet net zero by 2045, to bring forward a motion that allows plastic posters, cable ties, and transport to venues to put them up, for a minimum period of 50 days, is remarkable.
“This flies in the face of everything we are doing to tackle the climate emergency. In terms of the environment and how plastic breaks down, I find it remarkable that the council leader is moving this. This is corrugated plastic sheeting that will affect not just our generation but generations to come.”
Councillors agreed that while there were environmental issues with the plan those wanting to display posters should look for a biodegradable option.
SNP councillor Dianne Docherty said: “I get all the issues with the environment but I will be going out my way to source biodegradable pole ties. There are other ways to do this instead of using un-reusable plastic. We should find a way to display posters which don’t impact the environment.”
Councillor Jonathon McColl added: “There were no issues after the last election or on polling day either. In terms of the climate emergency, I do agree with an awful lot about what was said about waste etc but the thing is political parties already have these posters.
“We are not going to be producing new ones; we all have them stored in garages and lofts but they are being reused and not going to landfill. We are not creating any new burden on the environment - we are also using them.
“If you don’t have any then don’t get any new ones and save the environment. I would encourage people to use biodegradable cable ties.”
Following the debate the motion was approved by a small minority of members.
