Changes to council charges for bulk uplifts could be contributing to a fly-tipping problem at Valleyfield Wood, according to a west Fife councillor.
Bobby Clelland has called on the council to launch an investigation into the impact of doubling the charge for uplifts, which went up from £10 to £25 in April of last year.
Concerns have also been raised about changes to opening hours at recycling centres, which save the local authority £260,000 a year.
Council figures show that 40 cases of fly-tipping were reported in west Fife last year, with five later referred to the procurator fiscal.
Statistics for 2007 show that there were 21 cases of fly-tipping, none of which reached the fiscal’s office.
Mr Clelland, who has taken part in three clean-up campaigns at Valleyfield Wood in recent months, said: ”The figures appear to suggest that the number of cases of fly-tipping in west Fife has nearly doubled, which is a concern, and it may be due to the council charge increasing for uplifts of bulk items.
”Fly-tipping is having a serious impact on our communities and there should be a review of the effects of the increase in bulk uplift charges, which were imposed by the previous administration.”
Valleyfield Heritage Group has raised concerns that fly-tippers are blighting the beauty spot and driving away tourists.
Ronnie Collins, who is a member of the group, said: ”The council are trying to say they changed the opening hours at recycling centres to coincide with the busiest times. I don’t accept that because it used to be that most people would go up after they finished work. There was always a queue of cars between 6pm and 8pm.
”The change has definitely had an adverse effect. In the last year it’s been more noticeable and I think that’s also because of the increase in uplift charges. It means that more people are dumping rubbish right through west Fife.”
Roddy Mann, Fife Council’s operations manager, said: ”Our recycling centres are open seven days a week, from 9am to 5.45pm in summer and 9am to 5pm in the winter. These hours should give everyone an opportunity to recycle.”