BOOTLE
5 September 2018
Vol 25 ● Issue 36
www.champnews.com
COMMUNITY SKIPS COULD HELP SOLVE FLYTIPPING PROBLEM Report by Tom Martin A housing estate in Southport might just have the answer to Bootle’s flytipping problem - by way of a huge community skip! Such a scheme was introduced in the High Park area of Southport and has proved to be a big success with residents taking advantage of the skip to get rid of their unwanted items. Last year it was estimated that nearly three tonnes of items were dumped in the skip. The Champion has published a number of articles over the years highlighting flytipping in the Bootle area, and only last week MP Peter Dowd spoke out and criticised locals who leave furniture and rubbish bags on the side of streets. This Southport initiative is down to local Councillor Marianne Welsh, who has managed to get funding to place a skip every month for a period of six months in High Park. She claims it has been a big success giving locals the chance to get rid of unwanted items without the need to travel to a recycling centre or call on firms to take it away for them.
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Resort initiative points the way forward for Bootle residents to clean up their town
action in tackling this problem. They also have a number of initiatives by participating in community clean-up days as well as working closely with the council’s environmental hit team to tackle particular hot spots.” The MP added : “But it’s not just about how the council can improve its processes for dealing with the problem. Frankly, there’s no excuse for flytipping or dumping rubbish. In addition to the regular house collection service,
‘It is wrong that people are effectively robbing the public purse by dumping waste indiscriminately’ - MP Dowd
the council offer a pick up service for unwanted household items and there’s a local recycling centre at Irlam Road, Bootle for residents to dispose of their unwanted items in a proper way. “I know as the former Sefton Council leader that clearing up flytipping is a huge expense for the Council Tax payer – it is wrong that people are effectively robbing the public purse by dumping waste indiscriminately. “If appealing to the litter louts and flytippers to act responsibly doesn’t work, maybe a more robust process of zero tolerance enforcement might make polluters think twice before dropping their litter, dump their rubbish on street corners or fly tipping at will. “Perhaps hitting people in their pockets through fines and penalties will make them think twice before they dump their trash on the rest of us. Enough is enough.”
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Punishment Cllr Welsh said: “This is excellent for residents who are so pleased to be able to dispose of any unwanted or worn out bulky items or anything else they need to be rid of. Even the children have been having a clear out.” Bootle MP Dowd believes community skips could work in the town, but he has called for residents who commit flytipping crimes to stop or risk punishment. Only last week, there were images posted on social media of furniture dumped near Stanley Road which angered the politician. He said: “Flytipping and litter is blighting our communities - it’s noticeable that it’s becoming an increasing issue here in my constituency. “I know that my councillor colleagues do take tough
School uniform campaign Cllr Marianne Welsh next to the community skip in Southport
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