A campaigner in West Reading has raised the alarm over particularly shocking examples of flytipping at bottle banks across the area.
Nick Fudge, who lives in West Reading, has reported a number of flytipping incidents at bottle banks, and has expressed frustration at the council’s lack of action.
Mr Fudge reported rubbish being dumped at St Paul’s Court of Berkeley Avenue yesterday (Monday, July 25).
He’s also reported flytipping at bottle banks in Norcot Road and Medway Park in Church End Lane, Tilehurst and dumping in Southcote Lane and Tilehurst Road throughout June.
READ MORE: Awful cases of overstuffed bins and flytipping in Reading
Explaining the problem, Mr Fudge, a Conservative campaigner, said: “People use the bottle banks as their own tip, they think they can dump there.
“People should not be doing it in the first place, but the problem could be solved if the council got rid of the bottle banks and introduced kerbside glass recycling collections.
“That would stop people dumping rubbish at the banks.”
He also said there is a problem of littering and overflowing at public litter bins.
Suggestion a solution, Mr Fudge said: “Generally, there needs to be a review of where bins are and where they should be.
“I was regularly reporting bins in Pell Street pile up with flytipping two to three times a week.
“The bin has gone and so has fly-tipping from that place.”
Incidents of flytipping can be reported using the Love Clean Reading app.
Earlier this year, Adele Barnett-Ward (Labour, Thames) the previous lead councillor for neighbourhoods and communities stated that the council is using CCTV to deter fly-tippers at bottle banks in Howard Street, Kensington Road and Amity Road.
READ MORE: CCTV is being used to catch out fly-tippers, council says
However, no CCTV appears to have been installed at the bottle banks Mr Fudge has highlighted.
While he supports the use of CCTV to monitor the issue, Mr Fudge argued it needs to be rolled out at more bottle banks, with there being approximately 50 banks across the borough.
Responding to the issues raised, a council spokesperson said CCTV has been deployed to ‘hotspot’ bottle banks.
The spokesperson explained: “CCTV allows officers to identify fly-tippers who are depositing waste from a vehicle, at any time of the day or night, where evidence may not have been found on site by an Officer.
“The team also undertake activities to inform and educate residents on waste management and correct methods of disposing of their excess or bulky waste.
“We find that CCTV cameras are best placed where there is vehicle activity, as we can identify the fly tippers via vehicle registrations.
“CCTV cameras are not always effective in locations next to main roads, busy junctions or in areas where waste is not deposited from a vehicle.
“We will continue to investigate fly-tipping across the borough and where possible, will take enforcement action.
“If any local residents witness any fly-tipping activity we would encourage them to report the incident so action may be taken.
“Fly-tipping can be reported to Reading Borough Council via the contact centre, the website or the Love Clean Reading app.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel