Flytipping in Margate alleyway including paddling pool as Thanet council enforcement speak of challenges
19:30, 10 April 2019
An alleyway piled with huge amounts of waste has been branded disgraceful by angry residents.
Pictures show the horrific state of the bags of rubbish, bottles and even a child's paddling pool dumped in Cliftonville.
Thanet District Council says it is working hard to help residents by cleaning the many alleys in the district and praised the work of community leaders carrying out litter picks.
Neighbour Sarah Macpherson posted the photos to Facebook after recent discussion about concerns over the levels of waste being left behind by travellers.
She says she wants the council to be "more concerned about the disgraceful state of our alleyways".
Enforcement officers investigate every incident of fly tipping in Thanet and promises to prosecute every incident when it has enough evidence.
Council teams successfully prosecuted Ian Giles earlier this month with the Margate resident receiving a £2,700 fine for ditching rubbish opposite his own house.
TDC says it enforces the highest level of fine possible when flytipping is spotted.
The maximum fine is £400 for a fixed penalty notice - set out in national guidelines by the government - and the council also says it frequently brings prosecutions before the courts "where necessary".
A council spokesman says CCTV cameras are in place at "various locations" and footage is often used to identify flytipping.
But the authority says it faces many challenges in locating and catching fly tipping and is hoping to change behaviour of offenders.
A spokesman said: "Our Enforcement Officers investigate all instances of fly-tipping and where there is evidence will look to undertake enforcement action.
"One of the challenges we face is that there are a number of alleyways in the District, and not all are council land.
"People dump things because they think they won't be caught or that the council will come and clear it up anyway.
"This is about changing behaviour and creating pride in where we live - and lots of people are proud to live in Thanet.
"We see this with the many community groups who work incredibly hard to help us keep local areas clean. The majority of residents care very deeply but the very small minority of residents who fly tip impact on life for everyone.
"We are reminding people about their duty of care to ensure their waste is removed by a licensed carrier."
The council says highlighting prosecutions is aiming to educate the public and potentially deter offenders.
Services available to residents provided by TDC include a bulky waste collection and the council says it also hopes people will donate unwanted items to charity shops or use recycling centres.
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