QTS help clean up Kilmarnock community park

February 2022

A team of rope access operatives from the QTS Group have climbed into action to help clear fly tipped debris from Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock.

The area, located just off Kennedy Drive, had become a common place for fly tipping, but steep verges made it difficult for East Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Leisure staff to access and clear. Instead, local business, the QTS Group, stepped in to offer its specialist rope access team to clear away the rubbish.

Across the day, eight trailers and a van load of rubbish were removed from the site, with items including a fridge, wheelie bins, food waste bins and several ton bags of debris.

Andy Steel, Operations Director for QTS Group said:

“QTS is committed to ensuring that we leave a positive environmental impact in our local communities, so were pleased to offer the services of our expert rope operatives to get into these hard-to-reach areas.

“It was a little different to our usual day to day work on track side embankments or rail infrastructure structures, but it was a great way for us to get involved with such a good cause locally. Hopefully now it has been cleared, it will stop the temptation for people to dump their rubbish here and instead utilise public tipping facilities which are available.”

Nick Kelly, East Ayrshire Council’s Service Manager Greener Communities with Outdoor Services added: “We were delighted to be able to work with the QTS Group to clear this area of fly tipping and work in this area of the Country Park will continue to deter fly tippers. A ditch and bund has been planted up with 3000 hedgerow plants by Ayrshire College students, staff from the Rowallan Call Centre, the Friends of the Dean and East Ayrshire Woodlands’ modern apprentices. New gates will be installed and an orchard will be planted in the coming weeks”

Fly tipping is an offence that can see offenders reported to the Procurator Fiscal with fines of up to £40,000 being imposed. Fly tipping offenses can be reported via East Ayrshire Council’s website