An Aberdeen chef has criticised council chiefs after they tried to charge him £100 to pick up drug paraphernalia that was littering a city street.
Graham Mitchell, 29, said he “risked his life” picking up the used needles and legal highs packets in Adelphi Lane himself.
Mr Mitchell, whose partner is expecting their first child, phoned Aberdeen City Council to report the litter after he saw a group of about five people injecting themselves in the lane.
He said the local authority “weren’t interested” and offered to remove the paraphernalia only after he had handed over the cash.
Mr Mitchell, the head chef at the nearby Rox Hotel, ventured out into the lane wearing only blue gloves to remove more than 15 needles and scores of legal high packs.
Now Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart has written to council chief executive Angela Scott questioning the “unacceptable” response.
Mr Mitchell, who lives in the Hazlehead area of the city, said: “I phoned the council but the guy on the phone didn’t seem to care and said it would cost £100 to get rid of them.
“I think it’s ridiculous that I pay my taxes and they don’t do anything. Anyone could get hurt there.
“I’m about to become a dad, I didn’t have the proper equipment to do this job so I was risking my life.”
In his letter, Mr Stewart, said: “I am appalled and disgusted to find that this has been totally ignored and that business owners have now had to clean up the detritus left in the area because the council has failed to do so.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “We are grateful that the businesses have cleared up the debris from the lanes off Adelphi in line with their responsibility as the private landowners.
“Aberdeen City Council will always respond promptly to requests to clear private ground on behalf of the owners when they contact the city council to carry out the task. There is, however, a modest cost for the service on private land.”