Popular Fifer named 'street champion' for cleaning streets of local village

A popular figure in Buckhaven has been named a ‘street champion’ for helping keep the streets of the village clean.
Peter Wright.Peter Wright.
Peter Wright.

Peter Wright is a familiar figure around Buckhaven’s sizeable Bird Scheme housing estate.

The instantly recognisable, unmistakable figure, featuring beard, special kilt and hi-vis jacket can be seen daily picking litter from the streets, verges and parks as part of community efforts to keep the tide of litter under control.

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Septuagenarian Peter has been a leading street champion in Buckhaven for the past six years, helping keep the streets in the area clean.

He is one of around 15 such practical activists supported by local environmental charity CLEAR Buckhaven & Methil – all making a regular effort to support the Fife Council’s losing battle with street litter and flytipping.

Although retired, he devotes at least an hour daily to this task.

“There’s always more litter to collect the next day,” he said.

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Local residents in the Bird Scheme appreciate this work and occasionally make donations – and Peter said he appreciates the gestures.

He said: “I enjoy getting out regularly and doing something useful and it being appreciated.

"It’s good exercise, even therapeutic, and offers a sense of daily achievement.”

The waste he collects is also meticulously sorted for recycling when he returns home.

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A CLEAR spokesperson said: “Of course, if local residents had more consideration in disposing of litter and dog waste, there would be no need for this scheme or local heroes such as Peter. In term time, the pupils of neighbouring Levenmouth Academy generate plenty.

“For the time being, if wider Levenmouth had a few dozen dedicated residents like Peter, we would all enjoy a much cleaner environment.”

CLEAR offers a free litter picker and hoop for any Buckhaven and Methil residents who want to participate, providing they are ready and willing to pick up litter from their own neighbourhood at least three time a week.

If you would be interested in helping clean the streets in your area, contact – [email protected].

To find out more about the work CLEAR does in the Levenmouth area, visit – www.clearfife.org.uk.