Deputy Northampton mayor calls on council to find solution to 'shocking' fly-tipping issue

The deputy mayor has called on the council to find a solution to the 'shocking' levels of fly-tipping in Northampton

Rufia Ashraf suggested regular 'kangaroo runs' to collect bulky waste and to work with landlords to stop them dumping goods when tenants leave, particularly students.

The shadow portfolio holder for the environment for the Labour group at Northampton Borough Council believes the upcoming local government changes provide an opportunity for long-lasting improvements.

"Since April 2020, to date, there has been just over 19,000 incidents or reported fly tipping. That is shocking," she said.

"As we move over to West Northants unitary council, I urge the new council to find a solution.

"We can have a contract with landlords, remove fly tipping daily and for free and/or accept zero tolerance and prosecute offenders. But please, those in administration, do something.”

Councillor Ashraf believes officials should not 'lose sight' of the fly-tipping issue when the borough council is replaced by West Northamptonshire Council on April 1.

The St James ward representative said the problem is 'dominating every inch of the town' and has gotten worse during the coronavirus pandemic.

One issue that needs to be addressed is when tenants such as students leave their rental properties and landlords discard unwanted household goods, according to Councillor Ashraf.

For £15, residents can have up to three bulky items collected by the council but she thinks many take the cheaper option of illegally dumping their waste instead.

“As shadow portfolio holder for the environment, I have been campaigning to make this town clean for years," she said.

"I am hoping that Northampton Borough Council will one day listen. I have suggested the council set up a service for landlords.

"There could be a small fee charged to have household goods taken away professionally instead of being dumped onto the street.

"We need to organise regular kangaroo runs where residents are given a date to put out all their bulky waste and it is collected."

It was revealed that Northampton has the fourth-highest rate for fly-tipping in England last month.

While recent incidents include a load of sofas blocking the entrance to Stornton Pit last week and a rat was spotted among a large pile of rubbish near Sixfields Reservoir in January.

A borough council spokesperson has previously said the best way to report any issues with fly-tipping is to visit its website or use its app.

Both the borough council and Shadow West Northamptonshire Authority were contacted for comment.