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A councillor has slammed the "arrogant, selfish scumbags" who fly-tipped a pile of dangerous waste at the Wallasey Embankment over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
As reported by Hits Radio, a van load of waste wood with protruding nails sticking out of it was dumped in the popular area with dog walkers and runners. Residents pictured and complained about the waste, which prompted a response from Councillor Ian Lewis. Mr Lewis attended the scene with a member of Wirral Council's CCTV team.
Councillor Lewis said: "This waste is a danger for anyone using the embankment. The nails in the wood can cause injury to people and pets and shows how the driver of the van, and any accomplices, couldn't give a damn."
He added: "Residents, community groups, and local small businesses work hard to make our coast an attractive and welcoming place to visit. At the same time, the vast majority of builders, waste disposal companies, and those who generate this kind of waste dispose of it responsibly, and they too will have strong views on the actions of this selfish minority."
The councillor also shed light on what happened at the scene. He said evidence was collected that may help catch the flytippers, including a "receipt from a transaction". He also said there may be CCTV evidence, and he will do everything possible to identify the rubbish droppers and hold them accountable.
The incident follows an even larger fly-tipping incident on Red Hill Road in Storeton, where almost half a mile of the area was covered with kitchen and bathroom waste scattered across the road. Residents reported the rubbish on August 22, but no culprit has been identified yet at the time of writing.
The incidents come shortly before and after the government announced changes that could see harsher consequences for flytippers, forcing them to pay for the cost of cleaning their mess. The proposals would give councils stronger powers to issue conditional cautions requiring offenders to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle – who is also the MP for Wallasey – said upon announcing the proposals: "If you fly-tip it, you should be the one cleaning it up and paying for it. It's that simple. Fly-tippers show a blatant disregard for our communities, leaving residents to live with the mess they create."
