Fly-tipping mess on Portsdown Hill ‘is ruining our beauty spot’
DANGER Asbestos dumped on Portsdown Hill Road, at the entrance to a small piece of MoD land a few hundred yards to the west of the driving test centre. Picture: Paul Jacobs (120365-2)
THIS mountain of mess is blighting one of the area’s most cherished beauty spots.
Parts of Portsdown Hill have become a dumping ground for fly-tippers, who have taken no shame in leaving fridges, televisions, tyres, rubble and aerosols.
Even more sickeningly, asbestos appears to have been dumped on Ministry of Defence land.
Much of the mess is around lay-bys, which are seen as easy targets for drivers to commit their crime and make a quick getaway.
Their actions were today deplored by environmentalists.
Ray Cobbett, from Emsworth, co-ordinator for Hampshire Friends of the Earth, said: ‘There’s absolutely no excuse in the world for this.
‘It’s a “couldn’t care less” attitude. What they are doing is damaging to the whole community.
‘The whole thing is offensive. It’s unforgivable.’
The asbestos has been dumped on land near to Portsmouth Driving Test Centre.
News reader Maureen Francis, from Waterlooville, spotted the mess and was shocked.
She said: ‘I would urge anyone witnessing such activities to report them to the authorities. As more of our countryside is being developed what is left will be one glorious tip.’
Around one million fly-tipping incidents are reported in England every year – but there are prosecutions in fewer than one in 400 cases. The penalty is a fine of up to £50,000 and prison.
People can face a fine of £5,000 if they don’t check if a person or company they give waste to is properly licensed.
Some of fly-tipping at Portsdown Hill is believed to be on Winchester City Council land, while some may be on private farmland.
A council spokeswoman said rangers would be going out today to arrange for the removal of the mess on public land.
She added: ‘We would urge people to contact the council if they see any fly-tipping.’
The asbestos is being dealt with by the MoD, assisted by Fareham Borough Council. A spokeswoman said: ‘We just want to get it removed.’
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
adey65
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 09:58 PMI reported this in November 2011. The Winchester Fareham Council dividing line runs through it, so you can imagine how each council want's the other to clear it up. Given it's nowhere near Winchester it would appear they don't care about the environment overlooking Portsmouth & Fareham. I challenge them to co-operate and get this cleaned up before the end of February (2012). Given the material involved it shouldn't be too difficult for someone to identify who's had a new sizable roof installed around OctNov time. The older invoices are more likely from previous fly tippers as the area is prone to it.
Croffles
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 06:27 PM@3, Simon, It's outside of a disused MoD site, now mostly a SSSI. There is some discussion as to the ownership of the access from the road, with neither Fareham, Portsmouth or Winchester Councils taking responsibility, or being able to identify the current owners. A recent visit by the 'Rangers' identified a number of contact addresses and old invoices which should enable a prosecution to be bought., Whoever tipped the load is shortly to receive a visit.
simon.farlington
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:30 PMIf this happend at an MOD site why was they not caught on CCTV?
Le Critique
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:19 PMI used to do lots of running over the back of the hill because there is fresh air, it's quiet and the scenery is good. I always saw when a new pile of rubbish had been fly tipped. Is disgusting!! The builders or businesses that do this type of thing are probably all Cowboys doing dodgy work on houses and then ditching all their rubbish at beauty spots. Scum of the Earth!!
Croffles
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 06:20 PMInteresting!, I understand that when Fareham council was contacted about the matter last November they refused to help point blank. The only reason that fly tipping goes on is that legislation has placed excessive charges and legal requirements on traders making it easier for them to tip rather than go through the required procedure to safely dispose. Had the waste disposal been offered freely at receiving sites the likelihood of tipping would be drastically reduced. It's good to note that people are shocked at the mess, but are they willing to put their hands in their pockets to cover the charges in excess of £4000 to clear it up?
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.