A COUNCILLOR has called for an Ardrossan burn, which is overgrown and full of rubbish, to be kept clean.

John Hunter, councillor for Ardrossan and Arran, said that the state of the Stanley Burn has got worse and that something needs to be done to restore the small water course.

His call comes just a few weeks after the Herald reported that a resident in Laird Weir hit out at North Ayrshire Council over the state of the burn.

Councillor Hunter said: “It’s always been bad for rubbish, but this year in particular it’s been really bad. Down at Elm Park, for example, it’s full of shopping trolleys. Now, nature didn’t put them there, people put them there. By the time the burn gets to the Plantation, there’s so much vegetation and weeds that you can’t even see the water. I’m hoping that we can find a mechanism to keep it cleared.”

Stanley Burn runs the length of most of the town, leading to the beach between Saltcoats and Ardrossan. As recently reported, it has become a dumping ground over the last few years for garden and household waste.

Councillor Hunter added: “I’ve asked council officers to look at the legal side of this. Who is responsible for the maintenance of the burn? Burns and small water courses don’t seem to come under the same regulations as major rivers.

“Now that the autumn’s coming up and we’ll soon be into winter, it will flood badly again. I’m hoping that we can find a mechanism to keep it cleared. There’s got to be something more organised to get something done about it. I’m concerned about the state of it.”

According to North Ayrshire Council, volunteers from Streetscene have recently taken measures to clear the burn.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Streetscene Officers visited the Stanley Burn at Elm Park and identified two items of fly-tipping dumped in the burn. These were cleared on September 8.

“We have also undertaken work to cut back the growth on the banks of the burn and are planning to revisit the area to ensure it remains in good condition.

“In the meantime, we will continue our campaign against all forms of littering and fly-tipping, and we would urge the public to help us keep North Ayrshire a beautiful place to live, work and visit.

“Earlier this year, we introduced our specialist enforcement team to combat fly-tipping and this has produced positive results. There are many facilities where waste can be disposed of legally and we would encourage people to use them.”