Wendy Anderson, a member of the Hassocks Uncovered Facebook group, posted several images on Saturday, April 27, that show rubbish strewn along the side of the road on Underhill Lane.
The photos, also shared with the Mid Sussex Times, show bike parts, bags, tools, cardboard and tyres all left in a large puddle. People can report fly-tipping at www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/report-fly-tipping.
Wendy said: “It has been dumped right across the narrow lane, making it difficult and dangerous for all road users to pass, especially horses. It’s such a selfish act and will take a lot of effort to pick it all up, at the taxpayers’ expense.”
West Sussex County Council urged residents to report fly-tipping on public land through their district and borough council. A county council spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping is the deliberate illegal dumping of waste on land or in water on a roadside, in the countryside or on private land. Illegally dumped waste can cause problems to local councils, individuals and the environment. It is never okay and can leave you with a criminal record or you could face a £400 fixed penalty notice/unlimited fine. You can find further information here.”
The council encouraged residents to follow the SCRAP code: suspect all waste carriers (do not let them take rubbish without proof of registration), check a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency's website, refuse unexpected offers to have rubbish taken away, ask how your rubbish will be disposed of, and get paperwork (a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details).
A WSCC spokesperson said: “The West Sussex Waste Partnership (formed of the County Council, Biffa, as the waste contractor, and all the district and borough councils in West Sussex) has partnered with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sussex Police, The Environment Agency and others, in order to highlight and reduce the problems that fly-tipping causes. The partners are also helping residents and businesses to avoid unknowingly contributing to fly-tipping within West Sussex. One example of how the partners are working together is through joint operations across various locations in West Sussex. With the intention to both deter and disrupt fly tippers and avoid other waste crimes, officers from a range of partners have been stopping vehicles that may be carrying waste, checking compliance and interviewing drivers. Various vehicles have been seized, and drivers fined, for a range of offences.”
A Mid Sussex District Council spokesperson said: “We're working hard to actively address fly-tipping in Mid Sussex through education, offering recycling alternatives, and promptly cleaning up dumped waste. Issuing fines is a challenge, especially in rural areas where evidence is scarce. Nonetheless, we're committed to swift action and the majority of non-hazardous dumps are cleared within 24 hours of being reported. Residents can report incidents via our website, and we very much appreciate the community's vigilance in keeping our area clean.”
1. Fly-tipping in Clayton
Fly-tipping in Underhill Lane, Clayton Photo: Wendy Anderson
2. Fly-tipping in Clayton
Fly-tipping in Underhill Lane, Clayton Photo: Wendy Anderson
3. Fly-tipping in Clayton
Fly-tipping in Underhill Lane, Clayton Photo: Wendy Anderson