Uplift charge hike sparks flytipping fears

DUMPED next to a communal black bin, an abandoned three-piece suite sits catching rain.

Lying next to it is a broken wooden shelving unit and a smashed-up chest of drawers.

For those living on this Fountainbridge street, it is unfortunately an all-too-common sight.

It is among masses of unwanted household furniture which lies in unruly piles on Edinburgh's street corners, near bins or often strewn across pavements.

And there are increasing concerns that the problem has escalated out of control and may only get worse.

The council last week increased its charges for uplifts of bulky items by 15 per cent and opposition politicians believe even more people may now simply dump unwanted goods and take the risk of being caught, instead of paying the fee.

Residents, councillors and community groups living in many of the city's most notorious fly- tipping hotspots fear that Edinburgh could become one enormous rubbish dump if something is not done to curb the problem once and for all.

Roland Reid, secretary of Leith Central Community Council, said: "This has been a major problem for the last couple of years now.

"Fly-tipping is unsightly and it can be a health hazard. More importantly, it sets a precedent in an area that it is OK to do this.

"Often, if rubbish is dumped, you'll find that even more appears."

It was in August 2007 that the council scrapped its policy of doing all uplifts for free.

If people had large items they needed to get rid of – such as fridges, beds and sideboards – they were entitled to the first removal of up to six items free, but then had to pay £17.20 for any further uplifts.

That was later increased to £20, but the first free uplift still remained.

Following last week's budget setting, any residents wishing the council to take away items now have to pay £23, but will still be able to take advantage of the first free removal.

The introduction of uplift fees sparked a wave of criticism across the city two years ago amid fears of fly-tipping.

There are now renewed calls for all charges to be scrapped as more and more abandoned sofas appear.

The city's Labour leader, Councillor Andrew Burns, said he frequently passed large, unsightly piles of dumped furniture in his ward – much of which can sit for many days.

He said: "I believe the problem of fly-tipping has got worse since the uplift charges were introduced, and particularly over the last 12 months.

"There is no question that the problem downgrades an area and people certainly find it depressing. It's not good for the general feel of a neighbourhood.

"It is almost as though residents have the worst of both worlds – one free uplift but then a big charge for the second one. Uplifts should either be free or at a minimal cost."

Residents living in areas where fly-tipping has become increasingly common – particularly Dalry, Gorgie, Fountainbridge and Leith – have told of their anger at passing rubbish on a daily basis.

Ian McDougall, 75, of Liberton Brae, passes rubbish piling up on land at Goods Corner in Liberton most days, which now includes a settee that is understood to have been thrown over the wall a fortnight ago.

He said: "It makes me feel so angry – fly-tipping just looks so unsightly in our neighbourhoods."

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the council's environment leader, stressed that the authority was one of only a few across Scotland to offer a free bulk uplift service and said that all political parties supported the introduction of uplift charging for further collections.

He said: "We take fly-tipping very seriously and will take the strongest action against those who do not dispose of their rubbish responsibly. It is vital that people understand that fly-tipping is a crime, punishable by a fine of up to £2500."

He said that satisfaction with street cleaning city-wide had risen to 70 per cent and the council had achieved its best-ever independent rating for street cleanliness.