ENVIRONMENT

Mark Pirie

Fly-tipping on the outskirts of Strathaven has been branded “shocking” after nearly 100 tyres were abandoned in the countryside.

The mess was left on Upper Lethame Road, a popular route for dog walkers, last week.

The disgraceful dumping has been reported to South Lanarkshire Council and local people have now called for more to be done to prevent it happening in the first place.

A Strathaven resident who spotted the tyres told the News: “There must have been nearly 100 tyres by the side of the road – it’s shocking to see.

“It seems to be happening more and more on dog walking routes or on the country roads.

“There needs to be a crackdown on this kind of thing.

“It’s a difficult one – because you can’t monitor these country roads all night but surely something can be done?

“I walk my dog on Upper Lethame Road all the time and it seems like a hot-spot for people who want to fly tip.

“Hopefully someone saw who dumped them and they will be caught.”

This is the latest area in East Kilbride and Avonalde to be targeted by dumb dumpers.

In a special report earlier this month, the News headed out and about and found several fly-tipping hot-spots around the town and district.

Among those to feature on our list of shame were the Kelvin Industrial Estate, Greenhills Road, Telford Road and several locations on the A726 road to Strathaven.

Piles of bricks, fridges, chairs, mattresses, clothes and even dirty nappies have all been spotted around the Avondale area in the last few months.

Council chiefs are calling for people to report anyone they spot fly-tipping and to help them catch the culprits.

The environmental services department can issue fixed-penalty fines of £200.

Offenders could also be reported to the