​Campaigners believe poor communities are being neglected

Scotland’s most deprived communities are living in “dirty” environments suffering an increase in litter, graffiti and flytipping, according to an environmental charity.

Keep Scotland Beautiful said the environmental conditions between rich and poor was increasing.

It made the call based on data from more than 14,000 surveys of council areas across the country.

The surveys measured six indicators of local environmental quality — litter, dog fouling, graffiti, flytipping, detritus and weeds — and established the national average for the period 2014-17. The report stated: “Overall, local environmental quality in Scotland has reached its lowest point in over a decade.

Derek Robertson, the charity’s chief executive, said: “The national picture is one of declining standards and neglect.

“There has been a national marked increase over the last 18 months in the presence of litter, flytipping, and graffiti in communities across Scotland. Encouragingly, there has been a reduction in dog fouling nationally.”

Robertson added: “More than a million people in Scotland are now living in places where local environmental quality is declining more rapidly than the national average.”

Government intervention was vital in a bid to provide solutions to the problem said Robertson.

“It impacts on health and wellbeing outcomes, contributes towards people’s fear of crime and negatively impacts economic development,” he said.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “We recognise the links between health and the environment and are working to change people’s behaviour and prevent littering. Through our litter strategy we are aiming to provide better information, improved facilities and services and strengthening enforcement.

“We are also supporting public, private and third sector organisations through Zero Waste Scotland, to lead their communities in the fight against litter and flytipping by developing litter prevention action plans.”