A fly-tip has led to a district councillor calling on county councillors to ditch the installation of a booking system to use tips and called for them to be open longer.
Coun Anthony Casson made the call after a complaint of a fly-tip on Old Fen Dyke Road in his Weston Hills ward.
In November a system will go live where the public has to book appointments at the county’s Waste Recycling Centres including the one on West Marsh Road in Spalding.
There’s been plenty of opposition to operator Lincolnshire County Council’s action with some people claiming it will lead to an increase in fly-tipping.
The council though says opening tips on extra day will cost the authority £1.6m and argues it won’t sort issues with queuing at some of the sites.
Coun Casson is among those who say opening the tips for longer would help, rather than having a booking system.
“We’ve fly-tips in Old Fen Dyke Road several times in the past,” he said. “Having the booking system at the tips will not help.
“What will help is opening them for longer.
“How many times do you go past and it is closed?
“Those who do go to the tip on the days it is closed or if they can’t get an appointment, do they think that they will just unload their car to load it back up again?
“No, they will fly-tip it somewhere.
“The tip is a good facility with a really good team there, but people are going to use it less if they have to book.”
As part of his role on South Holland District Council Coun Casson oversees environmental health, including the team responsible for clearing and prosecuting against fly-tips.
He said the latest fly-tip in Old Fen Dyke Road was on land owned by a drainage board and the authority are unable to clear it if it’s on private land. He said the land owner had been spoken to.
Lincolnshire County Council executive member Natalie Oliver has previously blamed district councils for increased levels of fly-tipping, claiming not enough prosecutions were made.
Coun Casson said: “It’s difficult as you have to get the evidence.
“If they don’t leave any you can’t prosecute.”
