Councillor urges further action against Telford fly-tipping
A Telford councillor has said the borough council's trial of free bulky waste collection is a “great start” but more needs to be done.
Madeley town councillor Greg Spruce launched a campaign for free bulk collections and other measures to deal with fly tipping in January 2020, following complaints about items abandoned in the street.
“I am absolutely delighted that council bosses are finally starting to listen after more than a year of campaigning,” said Councillor Spruce.
“However, a time-limited trial is not really enough. This needs to be permanent, and give residents a fast turnaround from booking to collection.”
Telford & Wrekin Council announced the bulky items collections trial on Friday in areas of the borough most severely affected by fly-tipping.
More than 150 local residents had joined the Woodside-based campaign in 2020, which included a petition, letters to the council cabinet member responsible for waste collection and raising awareness.
The trial is limited to Woodside, Brookside, Dawley & Aqueduct, Donnington, Hadley & Leegomery, Madeley & Sutton Hill, Malinslee & Dawley Bank, and The Nedge.
It will run from April 6-16, with bookings accepted from Monday, March 22. A total of 225 collections will be made on a first come-first-served basis, and limited to one collection of up to six items per household.
“I am looking forward to seeing the effects of the trial,” added Councillor Spruce.
“But we need full-time measures to tackle this problem, which causes misery to the decent, law-abiding members of our great community.”
Cllr Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Neighbourhood, Commercial Services and Regeneration said: “The vast majority of residents do the right thing. They recycle at home and visit our recycling centres which are open 362 days a year.
"We follow up with enforcement teams across the borough
“We have offered one free bulk collection for every house with a resident who is over 65 together with discounts. This is is an extra response in the ward with the top 10 reports of flytips.
“It’s a real shame that Conservative and Liberal Democrats did not support the extra funding for the the free collections or the enforcement teams. We will continue to invest to create a better borough.”
