Councillor hits out at Oldham's fly-tipping scourge

A scene at Game Street in Oldham

A Royton Councillor believes that more needs to be done in preventing and educating those who fly-tip, with bigger fines and tougher penalties imposed.

Royton North Conservative councillor Lewis Quigg has described 'Don't Trash Oldham' as becoming a "don't pay we will take it away service", with residents from across the Borough reporting a repeated cycle of this blight and criminal activity. 

Councillor Quigg said: "Residents across Oldham regularly post online about hot spots.

"It seems that those who have no respect for where they live are now regularly throwing rubbish into backings, knowing full well the Council will come and clear it up when someone who does care about it finally reports the issue.

"In particular properties that have backings with high tenancy turnovers and most shockingly some are being paid to take rubbish away only to dump it in backings knowing the Council will come and clear it up.

"It's a don't pay take it away service."

He added: "We also have the regular problem of quiet roads or farmer's fields being targeted, which then becomes private property.

"It is time the Council made a big push to name and shame these criminals and made a big push on enforcement, as they have to send a message to those who commit this crime, that enough really is enough."

The Councillor insisted that with the money spent on cleaning up after fly-tippers based on the latest available figures is the same cash equivalent that could, on average, have filled in 8,462 potholes, cleaned 49,512 gullies/grids and employed 20 bin men/park workers.

Oldham Council have been approached for a response.

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