15 Mar 2025
One of the district’s fly-tipping hotspots is the surroundings of Fleetville Recreation Ground, where piles of rubbish can frequently be found dumped next to the bins in Hatfield Road.
But last week one of the perpetrators made the unusual decision to dump waste that included named coursework books from their child’s school – making identification easier than you would have expected.
Charlene Smith, assistant head at St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery, sounded less than impressed after learning one of their parents was responsible.
She said: “I have spoken to the parents of the child and they have admitted that they disposed of the rubbish at the Fleetville Recreation Ground.
“I have advised the parents that the name of their child and the name of our school is on display for all to see. We have asked the parents to go and clean up the rubbish and dispose of it thoughtfully.”
SADC has also taken a firm stance against the problem.
Strategic director for community and place delivery Chris Traill said: “We have been taking robust action against fly-tipping at Fleetville Recreation Ground by monitoring the area and carrying out enforcement investigations.
“So far this March, we have issued six Fixed Penalty Notices, totalling £2,800, to two businesses and four individuals whom we have identified as fly-tippers.
“We have also put up new signage to warn people of the consequences of fly-tipping.
“There is no excuse for fly-tipping which is not only unsightly, but can also be a potential health hazard and costs time and public money to clear up.
“It is a criminal offence with the most serious cases punishable by a prison term or unlimited fine.
“We will continue to take action against offenders and ask residents to report any fly-tippers to our environmental enforcement or waste management teams via our website.
“We also ask people not to tamper with fly-tips as they may contain evidence of the source that we would want to preserve.”
