Prosecute fly-tippers more often, urges MP

Regular, high-profile prosecutions should be pursued to deter fly-tippers from blighting the Angus countryside, the local MP has said.

Kirstene Hair spoke out in support of tougher measures after it emerged only six court cases were pursued against Scottish fly-tippers in 2016-17.

Ms Hair told the Westminster debate she was deeply impressed by the efforts of constituents such as Jacquie Steel, who regularly fills bags of rubbish from the half-mile stretch of road into Edzell, and groups such as Angus Litter Summit, which organises regular litter collections along rural roadsides.

However, the Conservative MP said the fight against litter should not be left to volunteers. “I believe we need visible prosecutions, on a regular basis, to discourage others from partaking in such activity,” she said.

“Rural councils simply have larger areas to patrol and keep clean. That is why it was absolutely right for Angus Council to keep recycling centres open across the county.”

Recent high-profile incidents of fly-tipping in the region include building materials thrown down the railway embankment at Warddykes in Arbroath over a period of months.

Environmental campaigners raised concerns about the issue this week, pointing to an earlier incident in 2012 when vandals caused a potentially serious derailment of a passenger train at Inverkeilor after an obstruction was placed on the tracks.

Yesterday the Courier revealed rubble had been placed at the entrance to the nuclear bunker on the outskirts of Arbroath, blocking access to the museum and visitor attraction and raising uncertainty as to whether it would open for the visitor season.

Speaking after the debate, Ms Hair said: “Constituents are in regular contact, with understandable frustration, over the lack of robust action being taken to deter and prevent fly-tipping in their communities.

“We want to keep Angus as a beautiful place to live and visit,” she added.