Flytipping in a bluebell woodland in rural Wirral has been slammed as “disgusting" by people in the area.
The waste was recently dumped in woodland off Brimstage Lane in south Wirral in “a spot regularly used by criminals to illegally dump waste” according to a local councillor.
Latest government statistics show there were 3,820 cases of flytipping recorded on the Wirral between April 2021 and March 2022, a decrease from 4,835 the year before.
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The recent flytipping in Bebington was first spotted in April and Leverhulme Estates, who own the land, say they are in contact with contractors to remove it. Images on Google Street View show rubbish previously left there in September 2022.
One resident who posted on Facebook said it was “absolutely disgusting,” adding: “Whoever has done this should be ashamed of themselves.” Others were confused why the waste was dumped there given the Clatterbridge Recycling Centre is just down the road.
Cllr Edward Lamb who represents Bebington said cases of flytipping on private land can take longer to resolve, adding: “The fly tipping on Brimstage Lane is disgusting to see, but not hugely surprising. It’s a spot regularly used by criminals to illegally dump waste.”
Wirral Council recently passed a proposal for a new enforcement scheme to raise income through tougher flytipping, litter and dog poo fines as part of its annual budget.
Cllr Lamb added: “Wirral Council, businesses and residents need to work together to urgently increase our levels of recycling, and reduce overall levels of waste. A new ‘waste strategy’ is due soon, and Greens will be watching closely to make sure that people are not charged more to do the right thing.
“We encourage residents to make sure that any business offering to take waste away on their behalf has the correct certification.”
A spokesperson for Leverhulme said: “Leverhulme and Wirral Council have collaborated over many years on this site, and continue to do so, as there have been frequent incidents of dumping, usually on council highway land and joint efforts are taken to prevent this.
“Unfortunately this is another disappointing example of illegal dumping at a cost to the council or property owner. We are in contact with contractors to arrange removal.”
In 2021, it was announced Wirral Council was investing in “state of the art” CCTV to help catch fly tippers with the local authority spending £3.6m a year to clean streets and paying between £200 and £500 per incident to clear flytipping on council land.
A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping on public land is an issue we take very seriously due to the impact it has on people’s quality of life and the cost in environmental as well as financial terms.
“Residents are encouraged to report all incidents of fly-tipping to the council at the earliest opportunity. Reports are logged and Environmental Enforcement Officers will follow-up with an inspection seeking evidence linking it to an offender. They will always seek to prosecute anyone who fly tips on public land. Reports are also passed over immediately to Wirral’s street cleansing contractor, Biffa, to remove the waste according to priority.”
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