FLY-TIPPING is a problem that afflicts most areas and dealing with it causes local authorities to spend money that could have been put to better use.

Back in 1970, a campaign was launched in Port Glasgow called ‘Tidy the Town’. It was a remarkable success.

Over a total of 10 days, more than 330 youngsters collected around 45 tons of rubbish to be uplifted by lorries and suitably disposed of.

It was said they discovered ‘everything but the kitchen sink’. Items irresponsibly dumped included mattresses, cycles, prams and washing machines.

The ‘Tidy the Town’ volunteers included pupils from Boglestone Primary, Clune Park Primary, Jean Street Primary, Holy Family Primary, St John’s Primary, St Stephen’s High School and Port Glasgow High School.

They were assisted by members of Park Farm Tenants’ Association, Kelburn Tenants’ Association and the 10th Port Glasgow Boy Scouts.

Gordon Forbes, of Port Glasgow Town Council sanitary inspector’s department, said: “We were very pleased with the co-operation of the headmasters and school staffs – and with the enthusiasm of the pupils themselves.”

There was an additional benefit to Port Glasgow other than saving its Town Council - which would subsequently disappear along with Greenock Corporation and Gourock Town Council in local government reorganisation - the cost of deploying employees to collect rubbish for uplift.

Many volunteers had been sponsored for their efforts to make the town a tidier place.

Most of the money would go to Port Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Council. Sponsorship cash collected by Boglestone Primary pupils was destined for the Benevolent Fund of Hamilton Bardrainney Church, with which the school was closely associated.

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TODAY'S photo flashback shows an old image of Greenock's George Square.

I don’t have a date for the image but it was possibly taken more than 100 years ago.