Worthing hairdresser finds culprit of flytipping - but is still told to clear it herself

A Worthing hairdresser who had rubbish dumped next to her salon has expressed her frustration at the council’s response.
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Claire Bowman first noticed the bags of waste in the alleyway next to Topknot in New Broadway, Tarring Road, after coming back to work as lockdown measures eased on July 4.

The rubbish included microwaves, kettles, pillows and bedding, paperwork and food waste which created a potent stench in the heat.

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Claire said: “I was so excited to go back, and then it turns out someone was too lazy to take their rubbish to the tip.”

Claire Bowman is frustrated with flytipping down the side of her shop Topknot. Pic Steve Robards SR2008075 SUS-200708-190639001Claire Bowman is frustrated with flytipping down the side of her shop Topknot. Pic Steve Robards SR2008075 SUS-200708-190639001
Claire Bowman is frustrated with flytipping down the side of her shop Topknot. Pic Steve Robards SR2008075 SUS-200708-190639001

She added: “We back onto the railway, so we get lots of foxes and seagulls. I had my door open, and we were getting wafts of it coming in. It was really quite unpleasant.”

Looking through the paperwork, she was able to identify the owner of the rubbish – and reported the issue to Worthing Borough Council, under the impression they would collect it.

But despite this, Claire said she was eventually told that as it was private land, she would have to pay for it to be removed – which she said costed £100 – or face a fine.

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Claire said: “If someone has dumped their stuff and you find out who did it, you want it to be dealt with.”

By Tuesday, August 11, the rubbish had been cleared, Claire said.

A council spokesman said: “We take instances of flytipping seriously and will take action against anyone found to be dumping rubbish, which includes issuing fixed penalty fines of up to £2,500.

“In line with national law, generally material dumped on private land becomes the responsibility of the occupier of the land meaning they are responsible for clearing it at their own expense.

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“In this instance, we have investigated the case and will be writing to the owner of the waste to advise they must remove it within seven days otherwise they will receive an fixed penalty notice.

“We remind residents that they are able to report instances of flytipping via the self-service pages of our website www.adur-worthing.gov.uk.”