Concerns about fly-tipping in Angus have increased after 25 bags of rubbish were found strewn along the main road to Auchmithie.
It is the latest case in what appears to be a rising trend in fly-tipping across the county, with one recent incident involving potentially lethal material.
Staff from nearby Seahills Farm, which was formally known as Windyhills were dismayed to find the bags containing rubbish, clothes and garden waste dumped on the road to the popular Angus village.
Farm Manager Gary Bruce said: “There is a lay-by on the road which gets a lot of fly-tipping, but this type of dumping is fairly unusual.
“It looks like the bags have been thrown from a moving van, as they are spaced every few metres.
“It’s such an eyesore, especially as the road is so popular with visitors.
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“The situation is getting worse and worse – it may be that people could be thinking that they might be charged for taking it to the tip, and are simply dumping it.
“We have had issues before, including people dumping tyres, and the council say they won’t help clear it up, and that means we have to do it ourselves.
“It’s going to take two to three hours’ work to dispose of the material properly, and we are already busy at this time of year harvesting sprouts and other crops.”
A number of high-profile incidents have been reported across Angus, including a one tonne bag of hazardous asbestos, while earlier this year, popular Arbroath visitor attraction, the Cold War Bunker, was closed when a substantial amount of tarmac and other construction materials were dumped at the entrance to the compound.
Angus Council has previously acknowledged the scale of the problem and has pledged to deploy covert cameras in a bid to catch the debris dumpers.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “If anyone sees fly tipping in their area, we would urge them to contact Police Scotland on 101, and if possible, provide descriptions of people or vehicles used.
“Fly tipping is an offence and anyone detected of this crime will be charged and reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”
An Angus Council spokesperson said: We were made aware and attended to make further enquiries, at which time the local inspector was advised the bags had been removed.
“Angus Council investigates every incident reported to us. Where we have supporting evidence, we will issue fixed penalty notices.
“The public has called us with concerns at “man-with-a-van” type advertising for waste removal and disposal services. Householders should be aware that they could also be fined if they hand their rubbish to rogue disposal firms and it is illegally dumped.”
