Residents’ concerned over tipping
AN AREA of Pontypridd has become a dumping ground for mattresses, old wardrobes, building materials and even vehicles.
Residents say the beauty spot near Eglwysilan Common has become a target for fly-tipping.
Scott Rogers, 41, said the problem is getting out of hand.
“It’s everywhere really. In the places you least expect to find it – it’s there,” he said.
“You see a lot of fly-tipping on Eglwysilan Common and near the Cwm in Cilfynydd. I found half a Transit van near the Cwm once.
“Things are also found in lanes all the time, and items vary from old toys to metal objects.”
Mr Rogers said fly-tipping had become “crazy” in the area and was down to “pure laziness and ignorance”.
Rhia Crowther, who lives on Pontshonnorton road said fly-tipping was particularly common at the end of the lane that links Batten Way to Pontypridd common.
“The rubbish is either dumped at the end of the lane by Penheol Ely Road or left in the middle of the lane, blocking access for walkers and the dogs and horses,” she said.
The 24-year-old said it is a regular problem in the area.
She said: “It does finally get cleared by the council, but it takes a few weeks for them to come out.
“Once it’s cleared, more rubbish is dumped almost instantly.
“For as long as I can remember we have always had multiple incidents of rubbish being dumped at the end of the lane.”
She said items vary from household rubbish to larger items like mattresses, old wardrobes, old wallpaper and building materials.
She added: “As well as fly-tipping being a problem we have also had others driving up and parking there to eat and throwing rubbish.
“Even condoms and underwear have been thrown into the field.”
A spokesman for the local authority said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf council takes waste offences such as fly-tipping very seriously, as a blight on our environment which is both time-consuming and costly for the council to deal with.
“The council has been clear time and again that enforcement action will follow if the identity of the person or people responsible becomes known to officers.
“In May, the local authority prosecuted nine people for waste offences – including one person who was fined for fly-tipping, having been caught on a covert camera in an area where the offence is a known problem.
“Eglwysilan Common in particular is an area where fly-tipping is a big issue, and we have several investigations ongoing from this area.
“The council also continues its Who Done it? campaign, as we continue to clamp down on waste offences, including fly-tipping.
“If anyone has any specific information relating to the areas of fly-tipping pictured we would encourage them to contact us.”