HUNT FOR TYRE MOUNTAIN FLY-TIPPERS
Council appeals for dumping witnesses
NEIGHBOURS who spotted flytippers dumping hundreds of tyres in a Stoke-on-trent alleyway are being urged to come forward as the net closes in.
Other rubbish abandoned at the back of Avenue Road and Cauldon Road, Shelton, includes furniture and wooden panels.
Photos taken yesterday show the tyres had been neatly piled up on either side in what is likely to have taken a significant amount of time.
Now Stoke-on-trent City Council is asking members of the public who witnessed the illegal dumpers in action to get in touch.
The latest incident comes as the authority revealed it has handed out 183 fixed penalty notices ranging from £80 to £400 in less than four months.
Councillor Carl Edwards, right, cabinet member for environment said: “This level of large scale fly-tipping would have needed more than one person to dump in this alleyway.
“It is somewhat incomprehensible that nobody would have witnessed this happening.
“It’s shocking and totally unacceptable that people think it’s perfectly fine to dump rubbish wherever they want, with no thought for the consequences on the environment, nor for their neighbours.
“Cleaning up any fly-tipped waste is time-consuming and expensive.
“Anyone who witnessed this flytipping should contact us.
“We take a dim view of people who blight our city with fly-tipping, but can only take action if there is evidence of who did it.”
Councillor Edwards said the authority’s environmental team investigates all cases of fly-tipping, and where evidence supports enforcement it takes action against offenders, including on-the-spot fines of £400 and prosecution in court, where appropriate.
“We have issued 183 fixed penalty notices for waste offences and on the spot fines ranging from £80 to £400 since March 27,” he said.
“Council environmental enforcement officers have issued fines after finding household waste, baths, mattresses, fridges and rubble dumped and blighting locations across the city.
“In one instance, council crews have returned to Rushton Road, Cobridge, on three occasions after residents filled back alleys of properties with dumped waste.
“We would like to thank the resident for reporting this to us, and once again urge anybody who has any information to contact us.”
■ Anyone with information is urged to call the council on 01782 234234 or email environmental.crime@ stoke.gov.uk