An Angus famer and tourism business owner has hit out at fly-tippers who dumped piles of furniture at the entrance to her property.
Caroline Millar, who owns Balkello Farm and Hideaway Experience in Auchterhouse, said the illegal dumping is the latest in a string of problems she and fellow farmers are facing.
Tables, cushions and other furniture was dumped outside the entrance to her luxury holiday accommodation.
Caroline, chairwoman of the east central region of National Farmers Union of Scotland, described the latest tipping as “disgusting”.
On edge of our farm. Latest fly tipping this afternoon. We welcome tourists to Angus who have to drive past this. It’s disgusting someone could think this was ok to do. @NFUStweets @NFUS_Angus @BusinessAngus @murdo_fraser pic.twitter.com/mnpJPG3h6J
— Caroline Millar (@CasMillar) September 27, 2021
Speaking to The Courier, she added: “It is hugely frustrating to have people think dumping their rubbish like this is acceptable.
“There have been a few instances and I know some people blame lockdown and the pandemic but fly-tipping not acceptable.
“As well as having the farm we have a holiday business and work hard to welcome tourists into the area.
“Then they have to look at this dumped by the side of the road.
“It’s just a total lack of respect.”
In her NFUS role, Caroline said the problem was a familiar one among many fellow farmers.
Ongoing problem
“I’ve spoken to a number of farmers in the area who have sadly experienced similar problems,” she added.
“It’s not just the inconvenience of clearing it up.
“There are the environmental issues to consider, as well as the cost to public resources that could be better spent elsewhere than clearing up after someone else.
“One of the the demands in the recent NFUS election was for more serious action to be taken to address the problem of fly tipping.
“It’s something that urgently needs addressing which is why I tagged Murdo Fraser in the Twitter post as he’s in the process of drawing up a private member’s bill to try to tackle the problem.”
Mr Fraser, a Scottish Conservative councillor for Mid Scotland and Fife, wants to see tougher fines on fly-tipping as well as making offenders responsible for removing the rubbish.
He said: “This is an awful incident where various items of rubbish were left on the edge of a farm in Angus.
“It’s yet another example of the scourge of fly-tipping to hit the country.”
Tougher penalties
He added: “I believe we need to increase the level of fines to act as a deterrent, as it is apparent that the current penalties are not sufficient.
“I am also keen to examine how we can shift the liability for cleaning up fly-tipping to the offenders who ditch the waste, instead of the current unfair practice where innocent land owners are accountable.
“We also need to look at a better way to collect information on fly-tipping.”