A RENEWED push to tackle fly tipping has been backed by councillors in Torfaen.
Councillors supported a motion which set out a detailed list of actions that could be taken to address dumping of waste in the countryside and residential areas.
Reform UK councillor Stewart Keyte asked the council to back his motion highlighting the environmental, financial, and public health impacts of fly-tipping, particularly in areas like Trevethin.
Labour’s Mandy Owen, the cabinet member responsible for the environment, said much of the actions proposed, including the use of CCTV and surveillance and identifying hotspots, are already being taken by the council.
The motion was described by by Cllr Keyte, who represents Trevethin, as “a renewed commitment to tackling this scourge”, rather than a criticism of efforts already taking place
He said a number of tonnes of waste had recently been dumped at the Trevethin and Penygarn football ground, which he said the council cleared, but a private quote he’d obtained to clear it was for £1,500 which he said was an indication of the cost to the authority.
He also described seeing mattresses and three fridge-freezers while running along Tranch Road, Talywain to the Blue Lagoon on a Sunday.
At the beauty spot, he said he spoke to a couple from St Dials “they said the countryside was beautiful but it was a shame about fly-tipping and right there was a sign that said ‘no fly tipping’ and warned of a £50,000 fine and imprisonment.”
Independent Cllr Nick Horler said cameras had been used in Blaenavon and were “very, very good to catch those people” but he said a lot of fly-tipping is on private land and it is responsibility of landowners to clear sites, making it harder for the council to deal with.
Labour’s Steve Evans said his Upper Cwmbran ward is an area of high deprivation and claimed a majority of fly-tipping comes from housing associations, who he said he has “constant battles” with and said “it’s their fly tipping and not Torfaen’s.”
Fly-tipping strategy
Cllr Owen defended how the council responds to fly tipping and said due to the number of actions already in place, which Cllr Keyte, had proposed she “wasn’t sure” he’d read the council’s published fly tipping strategy she had referred him to following an earlier conversation.
Cllr Owen also said the council has increased the types of material collected at the kerbside for recycling while its household waste and recycling centre is open seven days a week.
The Greenmeadow, Cwmbran councillor proposed replacing Cllr Keyte’s original wording, stating the council would “resolve to” take actions including a review of fly tipping strategy and enforcement and assessment to identify hotspots, with it “continues to develop and ensure implementation of the strategy”.
Her amendment was accepted by the council, including the Reform group, which passed the motion.