Leader vows to crack down on fly-tippers
Teenager is arrested after shop raid
THE leader of Rochdale council has vowed to ‘crack down’ on fly-tippers as the authority adopts a new strategy for tackling the scourge.
There were more than 5,000 incidents of illegal dumping in the borough during the 2020/21 municipal year, with disposal costs alone setting the council back by £167,000.
According to data, household waste accounts for the majority of fly-tipping in Rochdale, with roads, back alleys and council land being the main spots for discarding rubbish.
A report to council says the issue remains a ‘blight’ on the landscape and a ‘source of frustration’ for residents and the local authority.
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But a multifaceted new strategy focusing on prevention, communication and enforcement – as well as responding to and reporting incidents – was signed off by cabinet members last week.
And council leader Neil Emmott reiterated his previous commitment to combating fly-tipping across Rochdale.
“This is a very clear and important policy of the current administration,” he said.
“When I became leader in May I stressed publicly that what I wanted to see us concentrate on was providing good, high quality services that council tax payers of this borough expect to see for their money.
“Council tax payers expect us to keep on top of fly-tipping and there has been an increase... in recent years.
“It’s not unique to this borough, it’s countrywide - but we need to have a response to that.
“And what Jo (Oliver, council officer) has brought is a response to that and we are making a real, solid effort to combat fly-tipping.”
Coun Emmott told the meeting strong action would undoubtedly be ‘popular’ with residents.
“The residents of this borough do not like flytippers, nobody likes flytippers,” he said.
“These people come along, and they blight our community, they blight our environment across the borough and what they are doing is actually illegal.”
“It’s a crime to fly-tip. It’s official name is illegal tipping, so we do need to crack down hard on it.”
The strategy includes an 18-month ‘action plan’ to be overseen by a cross party working group which will explore and trial new methods of working and evaluate their impact.
New approaches for tackling fly tipping in privately-owned alleyways are being developed and will be trialled following approval by the group.
And two temporary six month enforcement roles are being created to engage with residents in fly-tipping hotspot areas about the correct way to manage their waste.
The council has also announced it will introduce free bulky waste collections for residents from April 2022, and a detailed plan is expected to be signed off soon. From early next year the strategy will be visible on the council’s website with updates on progress against, and evaluation of, any new working methods also posted there.
A TEENAGER has been arrested and an ‘ imitation’ firearm recovered after a robbery at a convenience store, police have said.
Staff were threatened during the raid at the Village Convenience Store on Middleton Road in Heywood.
Police said a man wearing a black face mask burst inside.
He stole cash and cigarettes before running away.
Police were called to the scene at about 2.10pm on Friday after reports the man had a firearm, GMP said in a statement on Sunday.
A 19-year-old man has been arrested and is in custody, added a spokesman.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
In a statement, police said: “Officers were called to the Village Convenience Store, Middleton Road, at about 2.10pm on Friday 26 November 2021 to reports a man had a firearm.
“The man, who was wearing a black face mask, stole cash and cigarettes before making off on foot.
“An imitation firearm was recovered nearby by officers.
“A man is in police custody being questioned on suspicion of robbery.”
No further information has been released.
The man under arrest hasn’t been identified. » Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 6576 quoting incident 1605 of 26/11/2021. » Information can also be reported online or by using the Live Chat function at www.gmp. police.uk. » If you can’t report online, call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.