Fly-tipping fears over closure of Angus base

RESIDENTS of an Angus town fear that fly-tipping is set to worsen amid the looming closure of its recycling centre.

Folk in the area have spoken to the Tele about spotting discarding furniture across the region.

Earlier this year, the local authority decided to implement a series of changes to recycling operations in Angus.

This i ncluded news that Monifieth centre would close.

Now fears have been raised that fly-tipping will only increase — with many saying it is already too big of a problem.

John Horgan, 67, a retired gardener, said: “I and many other Monifieth folk predicted that the removal of the skip site from Monifieth would result in the people simply dumping their rubbish at the side of the road.

“That combined with the Angus Council charge for getting rid of garden waste was always going to cause a problem.

“Stuff has already been dumped on the road into Monifieth at the top of Victoria Road, just beside the 30mph sign.

“That is obviously not what we want to see at the entrance to the town and we don’t want it to get worse.”

Rodney Bowman, also from Monifieth, said that local people were already clearing up rubbish, but every time it was cleared more of it appeared.

He explained: “I’m very concerned at this and have been in touch with local councillor Craig Fotheringham, who is very supportive of l ocal fears that fly-tipping will escalate.

“Many of us predicted that if the skip was removed from Monifieth there would be an issue and already that is coming true.”

Mr Fotheringham said the problem was a “travesty” and added: “People are already fly-tipping and that’s only going to get worse once the skip does close.

“I would urge anyone who sees rubbish dumped to get in touch with me so I can report it.”

An Angus Council spokesman said it was made aware of some rubbish which had been dumped in the area, but added that it had been removed.

The spokesman added: “Unfortunately, in Angus, as in other areas, a minority of irresponsible people will commit the criminal act of fly-tipping.”