Charities to lose out after repeat fly-tippers force Surrey collection site's permanent closure
Abusers who caused “untold distress” by repeatedly fly-tipping at a charity collection site have now forced its closure, Woking Borough Council has said.
The “state” Parley Drive charity which has been plagued with “old sofas, smashed up furniture and bags of rubbish” has left the council with no choice but to shut the recycling centre with immediate effect.
In April, the council embarked on a crackdown at the site – handing out seven Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) following a spate of fly-tipping with a total of 72 fines issued since then to people caught illegally dumping waste.
All offenders were given £400 fines reduced to £300 if paid within 10 working days.
Failure to pay carried the risk of either an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.
However, and despite clear signage and regular collections by charities, Parley Way remained a hotspot for illegal waste disposal and has now closed as the cost of removing illegally dumped waste was met by Woking taxpayers.
One resident posting to the Goldsworth Park Residents Forum wrote in March: “The state of the charity bins area on Parley Drive might as well be called Fly Tipping Close.
“The very state of it today, with an old sofa, smashed up bedroom furniture, bags of rubbish. I’ve never seen it this bad, even allowing for the numerous mattresses that seem to be dumped every other day.
“The CCTV camera opposite apparently has trouble identifying number plates in the dark… and so the dumping continues with impunity.”
Cllr Ellen Nicholson, Woking Borough Council’s portfolio holder for climate change and leisure, said: “It’s deeply disappointing that this site intended to support local charities has been repeatedly abused.
“Despite clear signage and regular collections, some individuals have chosen to treat Parley Drive as a dumping ground.
“This behaviour has caused untold distress to residents living nearby who have endured the consequences of this inconsiderate behaviour, and has left us no alternative but to close the site.
“Fly-tipping is not only illegal, it is a burden on taxpayers and a blight on our community.”
Charity donation bins at the site are in the process of being removed by their owners and once gone the area will remain a lay-by and the grass verge reinstated.