Fly tipping in rural South Lanarkshire getting 'much worse'
Clyde 1 News is hearing illegally dumped waste is a growing problem for several communities in South Lanarkshire
Clyde 1 understands rural areas across South Lanarkshire are being targeted by fly-tippers.
Areas including Tannochside, Forth and Carluke have been highlighted as hotspots for illegal waste dumping.
It comes after South Lanarkshire Council introduced a flat-rate £40 change for all waste collections, however it remains free of charge for people to book a slot at a waste and recycling centre.
However, locals in Tannochside have spoken out about more and more frequent industrial-looking waste left in rural areas.
'It's so unsightly'
Resident, Patricia Anderson said: "Every time I go past, there is another pile of rubbish.
"It looks like it's from a garden - bricks and big bags of soil, and it's getting beyond a joke.
"This is at the spare piece of ground before you come onto the motorway and it makes me feel disgusted that this lovely area has got this debris everywhere.
"It's not just me - it's my husband, my family and everyone I speak to.
"Right now there are probably about six or seven piles of rubbish there and I'd say most of it is from businesses.
"Maybe making the dumps more accessible, security cameras and hefty fines could help.
"It makes the place look terrible, it attracts rats, it's just so unsightly."
'I didn't realise how bad it was'
Similar complaints had been raised by locals in Forth, near Lanark, where a stretch of countryside road has been repeatedly targeted by fly tippers.
Because small parts of the B715 from Climpy to Shotts are owned by South Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council and West Lothian Council, the borderline nature of the area means it has missed out on local authority rural area cleans.
Drivers have spotted abandoned tyres, white goods, bricks, children's toys, mattresses and electrical goods at the side of the road.
South Lanarkshire Labour Councillor Catherine McClymont visited the site, she said: "I feel quite sick about this because I didn't realise how bad it was.
"There is a mixture of general rubbish here including metals, plastics which could've been disposed of in the proper way.
"I can't understand why people would do this to their countryside and it comes as a cost to the council and the ratepayer.
"It doesn't give a good impression of the area, we try to take pride in where we live and this doesn't help.
"It is quite a hefty cost for us at the council but we will act on it if you report it.
"It's something that's getting worse and worse throughout the region."
Covert cameras in hotspots
Councillor McClymont explained covert cameras are installed in areas which are deemed a fly-tipping 'hotspot' to help convict people responsible.
She added that people have a responsibility to ensure companies employed are SEPA-registered and are disposing of waste properly.
She said: "I think we need to do more about this.
"The council charges £40, so we can't have someone being paid £20 to take it away in a white van and dispose of it irresponsibly.
"We're finding that here at the side of the road, this is where it ends up."
'We take this criminal activity very seriously'
Kevin Carr, head of facilities, waste and grounds services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “Fly tipping is the result of unacceptable behaviour and illegal action by a small number of people who do not dispose of their waste in a fit and proper manner.
“It is a blight on our communities and the council takes this criminal activity very seriously.
“Anyone who can identify those responsible can phone our Environmental Services team on 0303 123 1015 or report the matter online by searching ‘report fly-tipping’ on the council website.”