Brownhills Councillor Steve Wade has been in touch recently on a number of local issues, and I’m very glad to see him developing an online presence and keeping us informed of stuff he’s dealing with – and I’m very grateful for the positive moves he’s made to communicate with me and the blog – there’s more to come from Steve later this week.
One of the issues concerning Steve at the moment is flytipping. He’s reported personally in the last couple of days loads of rubbish tipped at Coppice Lane and on the Holland Park car park.
The loads dumped are clearly the result of cheap rubbish clearance cowboys, and such incidents seems to have been a growing issue in recent weeks.
Steve wrote on Thursday:
This is what I saw on my way to work this morning in Coppice Lane in Brownhills… Tyres, chairs, a couch and other rubbish.
Reported it to environmental health and they’ve been out and removed it straight away, so just like to say thanks to them for their speedy response. This is the second time in a fortnight this area has been targeted so we’re all going to have to be vigilant to catch the buggers in the act!
And posted again on Saturday:
Unbelievable! Took my son to football training with the Brownhills Colts this morning and what do I find, more Fly Tipping, this time in Holland Park! Shocking!
Third time in two weeks I’ve come across rubbish dumped by scumbags. On to environmental health again to get it cleared.
Oh to catch these people in the act would be great…
Steve asks that we all be vigilant, look out for people who might be dumping stuff, and not to use unlicensed rubbish removers.
The lads with the pickups are out, now punting for rubbish removal (presumably, the tatting market is becoming too crowded). They charge a small fee, then dump your waste in lay-bys, industrial estates, car parks and anywhere they can’t be seen. This leaves you as well as the dumpers open to prosecution, as giving waste to and unlicensed carrier is an offence and councils do prosecute.
If you need rubbish removal, either call Walsall Council for bulky waste collection, or employ a reputable firm. Ask to see their waste transfer license, and ask for, and keep the relevant paperwork. No genuine carrier will be offended by your asking for proof of their validity.
We all hate flytipping and the nuisance it causes. Please think carefully about who you give your waste to – and that includes scrap metal collectors who patrol the streets. By encouraging them, you’re perpetuating metal theft and other environmental crime.
If you have any idea who these flybynights are, please do contact the council’s street pride unit on 01922 653344 or better still, the police.