Councillor calls for crackdown on fly-tipping
A Larkhall councillor is calling for a crackdown on fly-tipping after bags of clothes were carelessly dumped in his local area.
Last week, the Advertiser reported the “eyesore” after a number of residents brought it to our attention.
Now, Councillor Richard Nelson is calling for the people responsible to be held accountable.
He has written to Police Scotland asking that officers look at CCTV around the nearby area in pursuit of those who carried out the “senseless act”.
The shocking fly-tipping discovery saw large amounts of children’s clothes scattered in a wooded area near the town’s Asda.
Many locals expressed their disgust at the act as the items were seen as waste but could have helped struggling families.
The dumping was found to be especially careless as the mess was found only a short walking distance from a recycled clothing bank in the Asda car park.
Councillor Nelson said he is appalled and hopes more can be done to look after his local ward in South Lanarkshire.
He told us: “This week I have been notified of fly-tipping at the side of Asda next to the clothing bank.
“To say I was appalled by the mess would be an understatement, and I cannot comprehend why anyone would do such a thing.
“Apart from this, clothes which might have been used to help individuals or families in need are now going to waste. It has also made our community look an eyesore, which cannot be allowed to continue.
“As you may know, various groups around Larkhall have been working tirelessly to obtain funding to help make Larkhall a place where people want to live and work. However, senseless acts like this will do nothing to help improve Larkhall’s image and certainly will not encourage people to want to live there.”
Councillor Nelson added: “I have written to Police Scotland to ask that CCTV in and around the area be viewed in the hope that the person or persons responsible might be identified and be held accountable for their actions.
“This, however, does nothing to resolve the issues of the pile of rubbish laid bare for all to see.
“Following various discussions with South Lanarkshire Council, I have been advised that they will be removing the rubbish this week.
“After watching Disclosure on BBC One, it is apparent that there is a considerable problem with fly-tipping throughout Scotland and with the gangs behind it.
“What we need to see now is the Scottish Government taking action on legislation to give more powers to local councils and Police Scotland to tackle this abhorrent practice to ensure that our local communities are kept clean, pleasant and safe for everyone to enjoy and use.”
After South Lanarkshire Council were made aware of the recent act of fly-tipping, the matter was actioned for the mess to be cleared.
SLC’S head of facilities, waste and grounds services at the local authority, Alistair Mckinnon, told us: “The fly-tipping was reported to us on Monday, January 31.
“The entrance to Morgan Glen at Asda Larkhall is on privately-owned land.
“This is not the first time that we have been made aware of such an incident.
“A previous investigation by our staff found that similar material seemed to have originated from bags left to the side and behind the charity clothes collection bins at Asda.
“We will again be in touch with the owner of the land to arrange for removal of the material.
“Fly-tipping is the result of unacceptable behaviour and illegal action by a small number of people who do not dispose of their waste in a fit and proper manner.
“We would urge everyone to report Fly tipping online.”