'A success for tackling fly-tipping around Frindsbury and Upnor' - say Medway Liberal Democrats
*Images by John Castle
In recent months there has been numerous fly-tipping incidents around Frindsbury and Upnor. In May, Liberal Democrats called on the Council to take action to tackle the huge mounds of construction and commercial waste illegally dumped on an industrial-scale in the area, affecting the surrounding environment.
In particular, we highlighted to the media the land located between Hasted Road and Islingham Farm Road approaching (Wainscott bypass). This area was identified by local Lib Dems as a fly-tipping hotspot and in response bollards have now been installed by the Council, preventing vehicle access to fly-tippers. Although not a total success, because the site still needs to be cleaned up, nonetheless the bollards are a deterrent.
We will continue to campaign against fly-tipping, which has a detrimental effect on the look and feel of our communities. Another site targeted is land located off Berwick Way, towards Medway City Estate adjacent to the sewage works and the Saxon Shore footpath, where the view is blocked by mounds of waste. Lib Dems visited the site recently and the land has been dumped with "heaps" of fly-tipping, which can only be described as an "eyesore," with construction waste, the dumpers, must of made multiple visits, to the site.
Alan Wells, spokesperson for Strood Rural Liberal Democrats said "Fly-tipping has been on the increase in our area and this type of environmental crime is harming countryside around Frindsbury and Upnor, posing a danger to wildlife and livestock and costing farmers and landowners time and money to clear away. Although I am pleased some of it is being tackled by the Council, as demonstrated at the Wainscott by-pass, there is still a long way to go, and the campaign continues with other fly-tipping sites.
Fly-tippers don't care about the environment or our communities, and as reported on KM Online, Medway has the highest amount of fly tipping in Kent, with 5,141 reported incidents, 2019/20,(https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/revealed-the-fly-tipping-capital-of-kent-247392/), with residents and landowners forced to deal with the potential health and environmental hazards the rubbish represents. The council, farmers and other private landowners need to secure their property to deter environmental crime. Fly-tipping will not be tolerated, and our green spaces should be there to be enjoyed by the whole community."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Fly-tipping is a crime which blights communities, poses a risk to public health and the environment, and costs up to £392 million a year. Local authorities dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents in 2020/21, up by 16% from 2019/20.
There were over 60,000 fly-tipping incidents with construction, demolition and excavation material in 2020/21, an increase of 18% from 2019/20.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-new-crackdown-on-fly-tipping
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fly-tipping-council-responsibilities
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/revealed-the-fly-tipping-capital-of-kent-247392/
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/shock-as-500-tons-of-waste-is-flytipped-256195/
Actions to reduce such environmental crime and pollution have a positive effect on those blighted by the menace of fly-tipping. Prompt reporting will not only get rubbish cleared up quicker, it will also make it easier to catch the perpetrators. If you have any information around serious and organised waste crime, this can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. The register of waste carriers can be checked on the Environment Agency website. If found guilty of fly tipping, individuals can face fines of up to £50,000 or imprisonment of up to a year. Vehicles used for fly tipping can also be seized.