In view of the restrictions on meeting up remaining in place until April at least, we cannot organise a formal Smartocharn event this year.

Now is the ideal time of year, before spring growth starts, for a quick litter pick around your home if you have time and are able. WDC will remove litter with the regular bin collection services on Fridays.

And a BIG THANK YOU to West Dunbartonshire Council’s Greenspace Team for spending several days this week and last collecting litter all along the verges and roadside from Balloch to Kilmarnock Church. I am very grateful to Greenspace for doing this and hope that is will be repeated in future years. It is so much safer than a few well-intended Gartocharn residents doing their best early on a Sunday morning as has happened in previous years.

I do hope that we will all be able to resume normal activities next year, in late March.

Please reply to this address (smartocharn@btinternet.com) if you have any questions or suggestions.