CCTV call to catch fly-tippers

A PILE of building waste has been dumped in a city residential street.

And it’s led to calls from a local councillor for Cardiff council to install CCTV cameras to target fly-tippers in the area.

The waste was dumped on Aberdovey Street – with people living nearby suggesting fly-tippers have also used Moorland Park to leave their rubbish.

Councillor Ed Stubbs, Labour councillor for Splott, is calling on Cardiff council to do more to catch offenders by installing cameras to catch culprits.

“In my opinion it’s commercial waste that these people are dumping,” he said.

“It is a problem in that part of Splott. I really want the council to look at CCTV in that area so that we can catch people and fine them and use that money to enforce it.”

Coun Stubbs said also part of the problem could be residents not checking that waste was being disposed of properly.

He said: “You do see adverts in Gumtree that people will pick up waste for a cheap price. You’ve got to ask yourself the question ‘Is this too cheap to be true?’ and if so, how are they disposing of it?”

Louise Clarke, who has lived near Moorland Park for two years, helped to set up a local campaign group as year to try and tackle the problem.

She said: “Keep Splott Tidy is a positive proactive group. As a group, other than trying to raise money for CCTV for fly-tipping, there is little we can do about the issue.

“We work closely with our councillors who are also very proactive trying to help, so much so they organised a consultation on the changes on fly-tipping by the Welsh Government for the residents of Splott to feed into it and they all regularly attend our litter picks.

“We also work closely with council and the enforcement team, who have told us how difficult it is to prosecute without evidence.

“As a group we are positive. We also have planters to brighten areas of Splott up, but it is blighted with the ongoing issue of fly-tipping. CCTV is a must.”

Michael Michael, Cardiff council cabinet member for clean streets and recycling, said: “This fly-tipped waste has now been removed. Our enforcement officers were patrolling the streets of Splott until midday yesterday and Aberdovey Street was clear of rubbish. The picture was posted by the local councillor on social media at 5.15pm, so between these times the offence has occurred. If anyone witnessed this incident and is able to give a description of the vehicle used, possibly the registration plate or a description of the offender please call 029 2087 2087.

“Fly-tipping is completely unacceptable. Businesses have a responsibility to dispose of their own commercial waste. By fly-tipping it, it ruins the environment the we all live in and costs the taxpayer to collect and dispose of it.

“We do act on any intelligence given to us, with a view to prosecuting these people through the courts.”