Fly-tipping and litter ruin the countryside

Fly-tipping on the increase during lockdown

It probably won’t have escaped your notice that the number of instances of fly-tipping across the county during lockdown was on in the increase. The above photo was taken by the Dorset View’s creative director, Louis Pulford, who discovered this fly-tip at the entrance to Cannon Hill Woods off Uddens Drive.

At the beginning of the year, fly-tipped waste was reported an average of five times per day. Waste left on roads and pavements accounted for 60 per cent of incidents reported, while 18 per cent of fly-tips happened on footpaths and bridleways.

People are advised that their waste is their responsibility until it is properly disposed of, and should ensure they use a reputable waste carrier if handing their rubbish to someone for disposal.

Fly-tips can be reported via either the Dorset Council or BCP Council websites.

Fly-tipping is not the only eyesore across Dorset – see the report on page six for your reaction to litter on our verges.

“Embarrassed to live in Dorset”

By Janine Pulford

Have you lost pride in Dorset due to the excessive amount of litter on roadside verges?

When discussing the subject recently on Dorset View’s social media sites, residents agreed that the volume of litter on roadside verges is shameful.

“Our county is disgraceful,” said Jacqueline Moss who has reported the litter problem to Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) and Dorset councils.

Although both councils recently cleaned the A338 spur road, the work was long overdue.

Just days before the clean up, Eleonora Hazel called the spur road “a tip.”

Councillor Jill Haynes, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Customer and Community Services, said that arranging litter picking on high-speed roads takes a great deal of planning and some activities had been “delayed due to the challenges presented by the pandemic.”

The A338 had to be closed in both directions while crews removed the litter. Dorset Council said approximately 240 bags of litter were collected.

Just two days after the big clean up, the litterlouts had returned. An inspection of the spur road by a Dorset View reporter revealed several items of litter strewn along the southbound carriageway, with noticeably more on the northbound carriageway where some detritus looked as if it had blown off commercial vehicles.

James Potten, business partner – Place Communications & Engagement Team, Dorset Council said, “It’s evident some of the roadside rubbish we pick has come from unsecured loads from industrial/commercial vehicles, but the principle is the same as if someone litters from a car or van. Any waste that gets discarded incorrectly – purposely or not – is treated as litter and the driver is liable to enforcement action.”

Other litter hotspots pointed out by residents include Christchurch bypass and the road between Canford Bottom roundabout and West Moors. Three Legged Cross to West Moors Road was called a “favoured dumping ground” by Judie Jones.

The A31 was criticised heavily with the section from the Lidl roundabout in Ferndown to the industrial estate called “awful” by Kathy Allen.

Commercial waste strewn around a roundabout on the A31

Elsewhere in Ferndown the story is the same: “KFC litter… packaging and food thrown in roads around Ferndown. Noticeably Woodside Road and Ringwood Road,” said Warren Brown.

And Pauline Smith said, “I walked along Ringwood Road as far as McDonalds. The amount of rubbish along that section was disgusting.”

Wendy Coldrick said she was “embarrassed to live in Dorset.”

Not all the roads in Dorset come under the responsibility of Dorset Council. Christchurch bypass for instance is BCP’s responsibility, as is the largest part of the A338.

Both councils point out that the litter isn’t created by them, but by motorists who discard rubbish illegally.

Cllr Mark Anderson, portfolio holder for Environment, Cleansing and Waste, BCP Council said, “Unfortunately, there is always a lot of litter dumped on the roadside by drivers who seem unaware of their contribution to soil and water pollution.”

He said the council wanted people “to be proud to live in this area” and to encourage people “not to drop litter.”

Instances of littering and fly tipping are treated “very seriously” said Cllr Anderson.

Dorset Council is continuing its fight against roadside litter. Overnight litter picking on the A31 from the River Stour to the county boundary is scheduled for April.

Councillor Jill Haynes said there were not the resources to litter pick every verge in the council area adding, “We focus our attention on the busiest A roads, which need strict health and safety considerations.”

She thanked volunteers and community groups for their continued efforts to keep rural verges litter free.

Dorset Council is supporting this year’s #LoveYourVerge campaign, which will see ‘pop-up’ signage on roadsides across Dorset to encourage residents and visitors to value verges and other open spaces. The collaborative campaign is between the council’s Greenspace Service and Litter Free Dorset.

Residents should report litter problems, fly-tipping and rubbish being thrown from a vehicle online on their local council’s website. Continued pressure to prosecute could bring about change.

To comment on this article write to letters@dorsetview.co.uk