Telford councillor calls for more local pride to combat fly-tipping
There were more than 8,000 reports of fly-tipping in Telford & Wrekin in just two years – and a councillor today urged the public to tackle the issue.
Councillor Connor Furnival, who represents The Nedge ward on Telford & Wrekin Council, urged people to contact their parish council immediately if they saw anybody dumping rubbish so that action could be taken.
Councillor Furnival, who is also a member of Hollinswood & Randlay Parish Council, said while there was a reduction in the number of instances of fly-tipping last year, it still continued to be a menace in the borough.
He said he regularly held litter picks across his ward, and carried a litter picker and some bags in his car.
"On one occasion I had to fill my own small hatchback with 13 bags of waste that myself and volunteers had collected," he said.
"It really gets on my nerves to see that there are people who treat our beautiful town with such disrespect.
"I would like to say it is visitors but unfortunately the reality is that it may be your neighbour."
He added that whenever he spoke to residents about their concerns, they frequently spoke of their annoyance about rubbish being dumped.
Last year Telford & Wrekin Council was called to clean up 3,484 incidents of rubbish being dumped, a 15 per cent decrease compared to 2014, when there were 4,554 cases. It is estimated that the rubbish would have cost £250,000 a year to remove.
Councillor Furnival said fly-tipping was an offence which carried a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months in prison if dealt with in the magistrates court, or an unlimited fine or up to five years in prison if dealt with by the crown court.
He added that the authority operated a bulk collection service where up to six items would be removed from a property for just £18.
Households where at least one resident is 65 years of age or over are entitled to one free collection in the present municipal year, which ends next month, while residents in receipt of Council Tax Support or Housing Benefit are entitled to a 25 per cent reduction.
Councillor Furnival added: "In order to take pride in your community, you need a community to be proud of – and tackling the fly-tippers will surely help us all to reach the goal of a happy Telford."