Dumfries businessman accused of threatening to dump rubbish on council leader's doorstep for "a bit of fun"

A Dumfries businessman has been accused of threatening to dump bags of rubbish on council leader Elaine Murray’s doorstep for a “bit of fun”.

But Niall Cowan says the comment he posted online was “tongue in cheek” because he was frustrated that council binmen drove past the piles of waste on Friars Vennel for days without picking it up.

In an email to members of an online group, Mr Cowan wrote: “Just to update you that the rubbish is still on the Vennel with two council refuse lorries driving past in the last 24 hours.

“I wonder how much media coverage could be accumulated if this rubbish was to be delivered outside the council leader’s residence?

“I am pretty sure she wouldn’t have to wait so long for the rubbish to be removed.

“What do you think? Should I arrange Border TV to come along and invite Facebook people to live stream...could be a bit of fun.”

But Mr Cowan explained: “I asked Elaine Murray and other councillors to come down to the Vennel to speak to business owners about the rubbish not being picked up.

“There are food outlets down here and for that rubbish to be left lying for days is a disaster for them.

“Because they were in plain black bags, they weren’t lifted.

“They have been now.”

Dumfries businessman Niall Cowan. (Jim McEwan)

It’s the second time in three years that Mr Cowan and Dr Murray have clashed.

In 2019, her husband, Councillor Jeff Leaver, considered taking legal action against Mr Cowan for posting a slur about him online.

Mr Leaver was furious at a remark Mr Cowan posted on Facebook forum The Echo asking if he benefited financially from a council development known as The Bridge.

However he later said he didn’t want to waste his time with a “keyboard warrior”.

Dr Murray said yesterday: “The delightful Mr Cowan is at it again.

“He sent an email to a number of individuals in which he threatens to dump rubbish on our doorstep and encourage people to livestream on Facebook.

“Apart from the year after I lost my Scottish Parliament seat, I have been an elected representative since 1996.

“During that time neither I nor my husband accepted so much as one crooked penny nor have we ever expected any preferential treatment from any public service including council services.

“As it happens, several council services were already dealing with the rubbish problem and the bin bags were removed.

“I have also asked for them to be investigated in the hope that enforcement action can be taken against the person or people who dumped the bags in the Vennel.”