'C'mon people' - Mess left behind in Princes Street Gardens contrasts with iconic Edinburgh Castle backdrop

Littering and overflowing bins have been causing concern at parks and beauty spots around Edinburgh in recent weeks with the easing of lockdown restrictions.

But this image shows the mess left behind in Princes Street Gardens on Monday evening in contrast to the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

One frustrated resident wrote on twitter: "One of the most iconic views in Scotland. C'mon people! @Edinburgh_CC please monitor & empty your mega-bins. @McDonaldsEurope

lots of your packaging here."

The mess left behind in part of Princes Street Gardens. Pic: Calum Duncan

The photograph shows a number of seagulls searching for leftover food and a number of McDonald’s takeaway bags are visible.

The city council responded on the social media platform on Tuesday to say that a job had been raised to clean up the mess.

Overflowing bins and littering

Many people have taken to social media in recent weeks – particularly at the end of June – to highlight problems with overflowing bins and mess left behind at the Meadows, as well as people urinating in the area earlier in lockdown when all public toilets were closed.

The rubbish left behind in Princes Street Gardens. Pic: Calum Duncan

Crime writer Ian Rankin, who lives near the Meadows, has been vocal about the issues and recently congratulated the Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links group for adding temporary yellow bins there in a bid to reduce the local litter problem.

Seven public toilets were also reopened across the city earlier in July, including at the Meadows.

Other facilities to have reopened include: Cramond, Hawes Pier, Bruntsfield Links, Saughton Park, Princes Street Gardens and Pipe Lane in Portobello.

However, councillors rejected proposals to open more on the grounds that they are too expensive to run.