Ealing Lib Dems appalled by Council's fly-tipping epidemic

Liberal Democrat Councillor Connie Hersch spoke at the recent Council meeting about the blight of fly tipping across the borough.

£3 million is spent by the borough’s taxpayers in Ealing on removing fly tips from both businesses, traders and households. However, the council plans to combat this epidemic with fines and awareness campaigns only.

Liberal Democrats have proposed some positive solutions to prevent fly tipping and make it easier for residents to do the right thing. But Labour has rejected this motion and claims they are already doing everything.

With over 60% of residents in the South-East witnessing fly tipping, she proposed that there needed to be both a carrot and stick approach rather than simply issuing fines. Ealing issues more fines than any other boroughs in London! The Liberal Democrats put forward concrete proposals to make it easier for people to dispose of rubbish:

Some of the additional solutions proposed are:

• The Council should strive to have at least one WEEE deposit bin in each ward across the Borough.
• The Council should promote the Abbey Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre as an alternative for residents.
• The Council should tackle the problem of refuse collection from flats above shops as a matter of urgency to overcome many on-going fly-tipping issues.
• The Council should be diligent in reviewing waste management contracts from businesses and assessing that the needs of the business are met by the contracts they have.
• The council should provide cheaper bulk collection or provide community skips in wards for small household items

Liberal Democrat Councillor Connie Hersch - Crime, Anti-Social Behaviour, Communities and Culture Spokesperson said: “Liberal Democrats have said that rubbish on our streets is not just unsightly but potentially hazardous. It also contributes to the impression of social decline in the neighbourhood. Liberal Democrats have put forward several practical proposals, that have worked elsewhere in London, to address the epidemic of fly tipping but none have been accepted by the Ealing Labour party. Liberal Democrats in Ealing are the official opposition, and we have put forward positive solutions to preventing some of the issues. It is a shame that Ealing Labour want to bury their heads in the sand and avoid listening to suggestions that work elsewhere.”