Wardens and marshals join forces to make Aberdeen cleaner and safer
04/03/10
City wardens and transport marshals are embarking on a joint initiative to improve safety and reduce littering in Aberdeen.
Safer Aberdeen recently secured funding from the Scottish Government to carry out a campaign to promote personal safety in the city.
This has been spent on a variety of things, including an eye-catching window vinyl stating: "Have a good time, have a safe time," and is displayed on Union Street, pavement transfers with community safety messages, and stubbi wallets adorned with safety messages.
Safer Aberdeen has bought 2,000 stubbi wallets with the dual aim of promoting personal safety and responsible disposal of cigarette butts. City wardens and transport marshals will be distributing them to people smoking in public and encouraging people to be aware of their personal safety and urging them to dispose of cigarette butts and other litter responsibly.
Housing and Environment Convener Councillor Aileen Malone said: "This is an interesting approach to improving safety and tackling the littering problem which is prevalent in the city.
"Anything which can be done to raise people's awareness of their own and other's safety must be applauded. A great deal of very positive work has been carried out to improve safety in Aberdeen, particularly in the city centre, and I am pleased to see that Safer Aberdeen, the city wardens and transport marshals are continuing that good work.
"There is absolutely no excuse for dropping litter, including cigarette butts. Everyone has a responsibility to dispose of their rubbish properly and I sincerely hope that the people who receive these stubbi wallets use them instead of just dropping their cigarette ends on the street."
Councillor Mark McDonald, vice-convener for Housing and Environment, said: "I am pleased that we are taking this initiative, the cost to the public from having to clear cigarette butts is unacceptable, and anything that can be done to try and encourage smokers to behave more responsibly is welcome.
"The fact that these pouches also carry important messages to raise people's awareness of their own safety while on nights out is an additional benefit and one which will hopefully help address some of the problems which face us in the city centre."
Each stubbi wallet bears one of the three following messages:
•Take the Safe Route Home – to encourage people to use safe modes of transport to get home, such as the night bus or a taxi, or to use well-lit streets and not to travel alone if walking;
•Can't Take My Eyes Off of You – to reassure the public about the various services, including city wardens, transport marshals, police officers and street pastors, who all carry ShopSafe radios, and the CCTV cameras which are available to help keep them safe;
•Have a Good Time. Have a Safe Time – to remind people that everyone is responsible for their own and other's safety and to encourage them to visit the city and enjoy a safe night out.
Stubbi wallets are pocket-sized pouches which can safely extinguish and store up to five cigarette butts. It is hoped that those who receive a stubbi will use it to store their cigarette ends until they can properly dispose of them in a bin, instead of dropping them on the street. City wardens will issue £50 fixed penalty notices to anyone caught littering.