Fly-tipping must stop'

FLY-TIPPERS are blighting a car park near Houmet Paradis, Vale. A bed and mattresses, a cooker, a washing machine and other household and computer equipment have been left in the area over the past few days.

'The Environment Department takes a strong view on the subject of fly-tipping and has legal powers to bring prosecutions against people who spoil Guernsey's landscape in this way,' said minister Bernard Flouquet.

'Fly-tipping is not only against the law, it is also totally unnecessary because large items of refuse can be easily disposed of without charge through the department's well-publicised bulk-refuse scheme.

'Bulky items are collected from islanders' homes - meaning of course that people don't, for example, have to load a fridge into a car and dump it in a beauty spot at night.

'The application form appears in the Guernsey Press every Monday and is easy to complete,' said Deputy Flouquet.

Vale deputy Graham Guille said: 'I'm not at all surprised to see fly-tipping proliferate because there will always be those who try to get rid of their rubbish without paying.

'As tipping fees increase, there is going to be a similar increase in temptation to avoid paying,' said Deputy Guille.

'We have long got used to the Vale receiving the island's rubbish but we would be deeply appreciative if it could be disposed of in a reasonable way,' he said.

'The Vale is the only parish where the dustman delivers.

'Environment is doing its best and it's becoming increasingly difficult to combat the irresponsible behaviour of people who dump their rubbish and we have to pay to pick this up,' said Deputy Guille.

The irony was that all the items could have been disposed of via the bulk-refuse scheme, he said.

Vale senior constable Pierre de Garis said the recent fly-tipping was 'very sad'.

'There are lots of alternatives to fly-tipping. They could just as easily have taken it to the tip,' he said.