In reply to kwoods and Jim C:
In response to the letter I sent to the Council, Police, HS and SNH etc posted here:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=475273129188068&id=207...
I attended a meeting on Monday 11th March organised by the local Community Police Inspector Coleen Wyllie. Also in attendance were 3 representatives from West Dunbartonshire Council. The meeting was positive with everyone in agreement of the significance of Dumby and eager to make sure the area is improved. All of what is discussed on this thread and more, with regards unsocial behavior, was discussed at the meeting and the Council do have plans similar to those stated by Jim C. However, there are a number of issues going on with regards resources, land ownership, responsibility and future development in the adjacent area. It's all very well to find blame but there is a need to work positively with all those involved if we are going to get the change Dumby deserves. I was surprised to learn that the Police were not as aware of the issues in Dumby as I thought they should be. Fortunately Inspector Wyllie seems very proactive and responsive to the issues I raised in the letter. Given there is only so much resource and the issues going on in the back ground the out come of the meeting can be split up as follows:
Short Term:
As of the meeting the Police have agreed to carry out more regular checks of the area particularly during School holiday periods. Everybody agreed that having the graffiti removed is a positive step and it would be best to try and prevent it happening again. Police urge that we call the local Police Number if you see unsociable behavior. DO NOT call 999 but please do call 01389 822 000 (which will change to 101 on the 1st April).
I'm not sure that CCTV really solves anything as you wouldn't see what is going on in the boulders and it wouldn't prevent graffiti, littering, dog fowling etc. Also, who pays for it? CCTV won't happen in the short term if at all.
We agreed that the weekend of April 20th and 21st would be a good date to aim at for a Community Clean up of Dumby. I'd indicated that there is a huge amount of support from the climbing community for this and that some skilled tree surgeons and landscapers may be willing to give there time to help tidy things up. TCA would also be willing to help promote the weekend and provide some support to getting things started. I'm waiting to here back from Inspector Wyllie about further details but it would be great to start gaining support for this from the climbing community. Please get in touch if you are keen and have useful skills. We'd talked of taking out some of the vegetation and old fencing as a first step. As I say the details were going to be confirmed and I will let folk know once I've been told.
Medium/Long Term:
The Council and Historic Scotland are working on getting a new pathway in to Dumby. The current pathway along the bottom of the cliff is considered unsafe and is also not a pleasant walk. Most people now gain access through the football ground parking and along the edge of the river. As I mentioned above there is work going n in the background to make this happen but it is not going to be a quick process. In the meantime we just have to keep Dumby as clean and tidy as we can and bring unsociable behavior to the attention of the Police. Having a big turn out for the clean up would be a good start.
Hope this helps answer some of you concerns over what will happen to Dumby.