PEOPLE in Helensburgh have been urged to play their part in keeping communities free of rubbish after yet another report of fly-tipping in the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

Chris Morrow, who runs Asker Farm on the Carman Hill between Cardross and Renton, contacted the Advertiser to highlight the dumping problems locally after finding piles of waste materials on land near to the entrance of her farm a fortnight ago.

And several discarded items, including a brand new barbecue and all of its packaging, were found dumped in Glen Fruin last week.

Household waste recycling centres, including a temporary facility set up at Helensburgh pier, re-opened this week but instances of fly-tipping have been on the rise throughout the region during lockdown.

READ MORE: Calls for 'close control' of temporary Helensburgh recycling site

Chris said: "There was a toilet, bath, lawnmower, the carcass of an old kitchen and lots of wood, possibly an old shed right in front of a gate entrance to my farm.

"In another layby a few hundred yards from this are two burnt out vans also.

"The local councils will not clean up fly-tipping and claim that its removal is the responsibility of the landowner. How can this be just when the landowner did not put it there in the first place?

"And then another local resident sets fire to the rubbish and risks a fire on the moor.

READ MORE: Environment watchdog's warning over spike in fly-tipping during lockdown

"I really don't expect anything to change or improve."

In May, environment watchdog SEPA promised it would be "uncompromising towards those that choose to deliberately do the wrong thing" and dump their rubbish illegally.

Meanwhile Argyll and Bute Council previously issued a warning to fly-tippers after reports of illegal dumping at Helensburgh's pier car park, and elsewhere in the region.

A council spokesperson said the local authority is unable to deal with fly-tipping on private land.

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The spokesperson added: “We are committed to ensuring public spaces in Argyll and Bute are maintained to a high standard and ask that any fly-tipping is reported to us.

"The fixed penalty notice for fly-tipping is £200. If it is not paid, prosecution could result in a fine of up to £40,000.

"We all have to play a part in keeping our communities free of rubbish by using the many waste and recycling facilities we have in Argyll and Bute.

"We would ask anyone who has a concern about fly-tipping to let us know either by reporting it online at argyll-bute.gov.uk or by calling 01546 605514.”

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