'Put up CCTV to catch tippers' (From Oxford Mail)

'Put up CCTV to catch tippers'

9:23am Saturday 3rd June 2006

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Residents who dump rubbish in a clogged-up stream have been accused of costing taxpayers and their neighbours thousands of pounds.

For the past year cleaners have been forced to clear a stream leading to Northfield Brook in Blackbird Leys every week because there is so much rubbish dumped in the water.

Every week Oxford City Council has removed a mass of discarded litter, ranging from motorcycle parts and traffic cones to garden waste.

But the Environment Agency has rejected calls to install cameras to catch the fly-tippers, or cover the stream.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Brian Lester said: "The rubbish there is horrendous, from motorbike parts to traffic cones and garden rubbish.

"It gets cleaned up and is all back a week later. The Environment Agency has said it is too expensive to put cameras up, but I don't agree people are breaking the law and costing taxpayers thousands of pounds.

"Even if they agreed to put piping over the stream it would stop this filth from happening every week."

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said: "We are disappointed how often we have to clean it. The City Works department will collect bulky items from residents and there are 25 recycling points across the city."

Environment Agency spokesman Chris Mitchell said he had received reports of fly-tipping but officers had been unable to find the rubbish as people did not explain where it was.

He said: "The brook is a 'critical ordinary watercourse' which means we have a responsibility to ensure it is as clear as possible for flood defences.

"Officers check it once a year and cut back any trees or branches which could restrict the flow and remove items dumped there."

He said the agency would not consider installing cameras or piping, but urged people to report flytippers on 0800 807060.

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