Cracking down on fly-tipping hotspots
A joint operation between Harlow Council and local partners has
successfully tackled persistent fly-tipping problems,
which have blighted two local areas.
Ash Tree Fields has been a fly-tipping hot
spot for some time, with loads of rubbish being dumped on the lane
which leads to the playing fields. Jean MacAlpine
Park, which is adjacent to the Pinnacles industrial area, has also been a regular
dumping ground for fly-tippers. These two areas have been
regularly patrolled by Harlow Council's Clean
Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers and cleared by Kier Harlow
Limited, but dealing with fly-tipping is an expensive and
time-consuming activity.
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Fly
tipping at Ash Tree Fields |
Fly tipping at Jean
MacAlpine Park |
The Clean
Neighbourhood Enforcement Officers took the initiative to
address the problem, and working in partnership with Canons Brook
Golf Club and Harlow Town Cricket Club, installed a new gate
at the lane in Ash Tree Fields, which has prevented any
further fly-tipping at the site.
At Jean MacAlpine Park fly-tippers were
gaining entry at two access points, where new drop-down bollards
and concrete bollards and new security gates have now been
installed.
Chairman of the Environment & Community
Committee Cllr Tony Hall said:
"Fly-tipping is not a harmless crime, it
takes a great deal of time and Council taxpayers’ money to
clean up the mess and hazard caused by these dangerous and
thoughtless acts. Much of the waste dumped is
building rubble
and other materials that could cause people
serious injuries. There are severe penalties and the Council
is diligent in investigating and identifying offenders, and we
always prosecute.
"Council officers and Kier Harlow have been
doing a great job of finding and clearing dumped rubbish, and I'd
like to thank Canons Brook Golf Club and Harlow Cricket Club
who have both contributed to the solution at Ash Tree Field.
"The new gates and other
measures have solved the problems at these two hotspots,
but the problem remains in other areas of the town and the Council
can't gate every country lane or park area. To
prevent Harlow's green spaces from becoming a dumping ground
we urge anyone witnessing fly-tipping to call the
Council."
Paul Morrell, Secretary of Harlow Town Cricket
Club said:
"The new gate has overnight eradicated the
problem of fly-tipping in the lane by preventing vehicles pulling
off the road out of sightto dump their waste. This has over the
last few years been an increasing problem for us and has on many
occasions prevented access for members, visiting teams and
schools playing cricket at Ash Tree Field."
If you have any information on fly-tipping
please call 01279 446655 or email contact@harlow.gov.uk.