TWELVE people will be hit with fines after more than eight tonnes of waste were dumped in an Ashton-under-Lyne alleyway.
Tameside Council carried out a clean-up operation following repeated complaints from local residents.
The authority’s waste enforcement and street cleaning teams were summoned to the alleyway, off Springfield Street and behind Kings Road and Kenworthy Avenue, last week.
During the operation, officers removed a huge build-up of rubbish and were able to trace items back to 12 individuals, who will each receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for fly-tipping. If the fines are not paid, the cases could be taken to court.
The alleyway had become a regular dumping ground, with residents raising concerns about the impact on the neighbourhood and local environment.
Councillor Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a great result – the alleyway now looks so much better and cleaner for the local community and, equally importantly, those who are responsible for dumping the waste will be held accountable.”
She also highlighted that alleyways like this are not owned or adopted by the council and are the responsibility of the residents who have access to them.
“Unfortunately, this location had become a regular fly tipping hotspot, blighting the neighbourhood, and I’m grateful to our teams for their hard work and dedication in clearing and investigating the waste to find and take action against those responsible,” she said.
Cllr Boyle added: “There is no excuse for flytipping, is it disrespectful to other residents and the local environment.”
The council says fly-tipping remains a persistent problem across the borough. In January alone, 49 Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for waste-related offences.
“Most people don’t illegally dump their waste but, for those that do, we will always take action where we find evidence and our teams are proving themselves to be exceptionally proactive and diligent in tackling this on behalf of the community,” Cllr Boyle said.
Residents are encouraged to report fly-tipping via the council’s website so enforcement teams can investigate and take action where possible.