Road closure enforced in Mendip’s battle with fly-tippers

A major step forward in Mendip’s battle against fly-tippers took place on Monday 11th April when an 18-month temporary road closure was introduced at a notorious fly-tipping hotspot near Frome.

Criminals regularly dump waste illegally around the Gypsy Lane, Berkley Lane and Dark Lane areas of Berkley, just outside Frome, causing an ugly blight on the countryside.

Now, in a bid to reduce the number of fly-tipping incidents in the Gypsy Lane/Dark Lane area, Mendip has introduced an 18-month temporary road closure of Berkley Lane, from the north side of the Pines Residential Site to a point just before the railway bridge before Berkley village. The closure also includes Dark Lane, along its entire length to the junction of Pot Lane. The closure is necessary to stop the criminals accessing the quiet country lanes to dump their rubbish.

Meanwhile, enforcement officers will strengthen their patrols in a bid to capture evidence which can lead to successful prosecutions.

Donna Nolan, corporate manager for governance, assets and public spaces said, “Fly-tipping has blighted this area of the district for too long and we want to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to continue illegally dumping rubbish at this site.

“As a council we are committed to tackling fly-tipping and the negative impact it has on the local environment and communities in the district.

“We are also stepping up our enforcement action in a bid to identify and prosecute those individuals responsible – but we do need help from the public.

“To contact the council to report fly-tipping call 0300 303 8588. You can also email
customerservices@mendip.gov.uk or report directly online – www.mendip.gov.uk/streetclean

“You can also contact Crimestoppers to make an anonymous report of the fly-tipping you have witnessed. Call 0800 555111 or go to www.crimestoppers-uk.org

“I would once again like to apologise in advance to anyone living locally that is inconvenienced by this road closure, but I hope that you will understand that it forms a key part of our efforts to tackle these criminals.”

Mendip District Council, working alongside Somerset Waste Partnership, already offers a number of ways for residents to dispose of their waste safely and legally.

In addition to the fortnightly waste and recycling collections, residents can sign up for a fortnightly garden waste collection for £50 a year, or buy a pack of 10 garden waste sacks for just £26.

Somerset Waste Partnership operates a number of Household Recycling Centres across Mendip and also offers a collection service for ‘bulky waste’, such as fridges/freezers, tables, chairs, beds and sofas.

Donna Nolan added, “Local people can help us combat fly-tipping by ensuring that if they are paying a contractor or a ‘man with a van’ to take away their rubbish they ask to see the contractor’s waste carrier licence, to ensure the rubbish will be disposed of correctly. You have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure a licensed waste carrier removes your waste or you risk ending up in court with a criminal record and a fine of up to £5,000.”

To sign up for a garden waste collection or find your nearest Household Recycling Centre go to www.mendip.gov.uk/waste or call 0300 303 8588.