Almost 90% of residents in Carnoustie have seen an increase in fly-tipping since the decision to remove skips across Angus, according to a poll.
A total of 1,690 residents responded to the online survey run by OurCarnoustie between April 26 and May 3, expressing concern about the removal of waste disposal facilities at Monifieth, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir and Brechin.
Council bosses removed temporary facilities put in during the recent refuse collection staff strike last weekend.
The survey organisers said 89.5% of respondents in Carnoustie – and everyone who chose to complete the survey in Kirriemuir – had noticed an increase in fly-tipping
An OurCarnoustie spokesperson said: “These percentages shows that the council’s policy of removing general waste facilities from some recycling centres is having a negative impact on the surrounding Angus countryside.
“As a result, it must, surely, be having an additional financial impact on the council and ultimately the tax payer.
“This additional fly-tipping will also have indirect social, environmental, economic, and health implications.”
Councillor Brian Boyd, Independent, who has been campaigning on the waste issue, said: “This isn’t surprising. My inbox is full of complaints about fly-tipping.
“This week alone there has been three complaints about the issue from Newbigging, Monikie and Muirdrum. This is the largest ever response to a poll on OurCarnoustie and this is only a snapshot taken across one week.”
A total of 98% of those who responded to the survey said general waste facilities should be re-installed in the four towns.
The OurCarnoustie spokesperson said: “The theme emerging is disappointment that council tax payers are not getting services that they once did despite paying the same or higher rates.
“Clearly the results of this snap survey demonstrate the public feeling surrounding general waste provision disparity.
“Hopefully the relevant council committees can take this feedback on board if and when service provision is reviewed.
A council spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping is a national problem, one we are not immune to in Angus. Similar to many other parts of the country, we have witnessed an upturn in reported incidents.
“We encourage the reporting of incidents and receive tremendous support from very active community groups and volunteers, whose efforts in cleaning the areas where they live and reporting incidents to us are greatly appreciated.
“We are not aware of a significant increase in fly-tipping incidents due to the re-design of our recycling centres. Indeed, we often find evidence where the culprits of fly-tipping incidents live outwith Angus. Like all incidents of fly-tipping reported to us, these are investigated.”
