A Craigneuk councillor has called for large amounts of fly-tipping to be cleared from a nearby lane.
Councillor Nathan Wilson has reported to the council significant quantities of dumped materials at a path that is located between the residential streets of Glencleland Road and Flaxmill Avenue with the final section of the lane also adjacent to properties on Glencairn Avenue.
The lane has public access points at both Glencleland Road and neighbouring Meadowhead Road.
The area is a fly-tipping hotspot and Councillor Wilson has previously highlighted concerns to the council about the dumping of used items on the land.
A considerable number of different items have been illicitly deposited throughout the lane from it’s entrance at Meadowhead Road and along to the very end of the path.
The range of dumped items on the land includes two fridges, tyres, a mattress, blinds, carpet, metal and household storage containers.
The fly-tipping also includes shopping bags, debris, rocks, children’s play equipment and toddler’s car seats.
The Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor said: “Fly-tipping is an illicit activity that should not be tolerated and behaviour of this nature spoils the local environment for everyone.
“The sheer number and variety of items that are currently present across the lane would suggest there has been multiple separate incidents of fly tipping at different times.
“I am hugely frustrated that my constituents in Craigneuk are constantly having to put up with unacceptable fly tipping at the lane and on far too many occasions over the years, it has been left in a mess through the irresponsible dumping of waste.
“I have reported the fly tipping to the Environment Service and called on the council to arrange for the items to be removed.
“I have also again stressed that the lane is a fly-tipping hotspot and the local authority needs to review whether any other measures can be pursued to deal with the problem at this location in Craigneuk more regularly.”
In August, North Lanarkshire Council unveiled a new approach to fly-tipping after spending £2.16 million over five years to remove and dispose of nearly 20,000 tonnes of rubbish dumped on public land.
The authority’s hefty bill doesn’t include the cost of dealing with hazardous waste such as asbestos and tyres.
Councillors were told that 40 mobile CCTV cameras have been installed at dumping “hotspots”, helping to snare offenders who are often members of organised criminal gangs.
The solar-powered cameras can easily be moved to other locations where fly-tipping is rife.
Lyall Rennie, the council’s chief officer for community operations, said the number of fixed penalty notices issued by his staff for illegal dumping has nearly trebled as a result of the cameras.
The fixed penalty is £500 and the most serious cases are referred to the procurator fiscal for prosecution in the sheriff court.
But in his report Mr Rennie stated: “Current backlogs faced by the criminal courts can mean significant delays between the reporting of fly-tipping cases and matters being brought to a successful conclusion.
“Consequently, our environmental health officers are liaising with colleagues from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on a fast-track procedure to process cases with strong evidence capture.
“SEPA officers are empowered to issue fixed penalties of £1,000 while the SEPA board can approve variable monetary penalties up to £40,000. It can also invoke both civil and criminal asset recoveries in respect of proceeds of crime legislation.”
The council has now agreed a protocol whereby if it can provide “the requisite level of offences” SEPA will issue fines to the offenders.
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