Lockdown fly-tippers turn North West beauty spots into eyesores

Rangers patrolling some of the North West’s treasured beauty spots say the areas have become magnets for fly-tippers during the coronavirus lockdown.

Staff working for United Utilities say that in some places the amount of rubbish being dumped in car parks, laybys and verges has leapt since social distancing rules forced the closure of local waste tips.

The worst hit areas include Lamaload Reservoir near Macclesfield, Holme Moss above Glossop, and Rivington near Chorley. Items dumped include building rubble, general items, toys and housewares.
All the land drains into nearby reservoirs, which is why the water company is at pains to keep it pristine.

Catchment manager Alexandria Bowden said existing problems with fly-tipping had noticeably increased, with staff in some areas estimating that illegal dumping had increased 50 per cent.

“This is more than anti-social and unsightly. Dumping items runs the risk of damaging the environment we all love and could even cause pollution,” she said.

“Our contractors are working flat out to clear it, but the general upturn in fly-tipping across the region is stretching them and their capacity to store the waste.”

Councils across the region have asked people to temporarily store bulky items, DIY and other waste safely at home until recycling centres re-open. 

If you spot someone illegally dumping waste, don’t confront them.  Note details like registration number, colour, make and model of the vehicle, what the tippers look like, what sort of rubbish was being dumped and where, and report it to your local council or police.