From the JANUARY 2016 edition of The Merthyr Tydfil Times
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had a problem with fly tipping in the borough for years but now it seems to be totally out of control.
Unfortunately, the ignorance and laziness of a small few is having a detrimental effect on the lives of most Merthyr Tydfil residents.
The problem has escalated since the following measures came into force:
Residents bins were exchanged for smaller ones.
The new recycling rules have come into force causing much confusion and anger.
Higher prices being asked for collection of larger items from peoples homes with no concessions for older people.
Stricter controls at the local Civil Amenity sites.
Use of blue bags for the recycling of certain items in an area prone to a lot of wind resulting in plastics and cans littering the streets.
While it is not an excuse to blame the Council for what we are seeing lately, it must however, be asked, just who is making these decisions and if they have been thought through?
The decisions that have been made, smack of cost cutting for the sake of it, no thoughts of the consequences, and one must wonder if Gareth Chapman, MTCBC Chief Executive, has turned over total control to Price WaterHouse Coopers.
Such is the disgust of some local residents, a Facebook page has been set up called:
“Merthyr Tydfil name and shame the Fly Tippers”
This page is doing just what it says and is naming the alleged Fly Tippers. While this could lead to someone being wrongly accused, it must be said that at least they are showing how much they care about their town and are doing something about it.
Also Local Councillor, Linda Matthews said: “Please would everybody report fly tipping to their local councilor? We are making every effort to solve this problem but if we don’t know about it we can’t report it! ……… I have reported this one. Any incidents in Town Ward please contact me Linda.Matthews@merthyr.gov.uk”
So what exactly can be done to stamp out the problem of Fly Tipping? Can covert cameras be installed at Hot Spots to catch the offenders with the money from fines being used to pay for the rental of these cameras? Will those in a position of power review the measures they have taken and change the ones that are not working? We all know that it is necessary to recycle but isn’t there a way to get it done properly.
These are some of the questions we will put to those that make the decisions locally for the next edition of the newspaper.
If things continue as they are, we are going to need the services of The Pied Piper by the time the summer months come around to rid the town of vermin.
