Rogue firms blamed by Glasgow residents for fly-tipping shame

Fed-up locals are calling for CCTV to be installed in Dunphail Road in Easterhouse after putting up with months of relentless fly-tipping.

They say carpets, broken furniture, fridges, mattresses, sofas, piles of clothing and disused toys are among the items being discarded under the cover of darkness by ‘white van men’.

Resident Helen Mitchell has lived in the area for more than 30 years and believes tougher deterrents and fresh security measures should be installed.

She says the community is crying out for investment and it is now suffering because of years of neglect.

The 53-year-old told the Glasgow Times: “It’s an absolute disgrace what has happened, the place has been turned into a complete eyesore. Pretty much every week white vans used by cheap removal firms are showing up late at night and leaving all sorts of rubbish on the open area right next to homes.

“We know it’s not residents as these vehicles come after dark, empty out all manner of rubbish and just drive off. I suspect it’s only going to get worse with waste charges set to increase - it makes me so angry to think that this area we've taken pride in has become a target.

“I wonder how these people would feel if this was happening outside their property? It’s just not on and folk are sick of it.”

Helen says that Glasgow City Council’s neighbourhood teams are being called upon to deal with the repeated fly-tipping and that people are worried about the associated environmental issues it could cause.

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She said: “Vermin are attracted by this type of carry on and that is the last thing we need. It is bad enough that you need to look at the mess near your home every other day without worrying about anything else.

“There has been a lack of investment in this part of Easterhouse for a number of years, and now that is coming home to roost. This used to be a really nice area but it has been allowed to fall away.”

Helen is calling for CCTV to be installed to catch those responsible – and then wants to see them handed large fines in an effort to deter others.

She explained: “There are clearly a number of these white van men responsible for this, but if we can catch one and hit them with a big fine, it will send a message to the rest.

“Security cameras would certainly make them think twice and would give us all a bit of peace of mind that the issue is being taken seriously and that something tangible is being done to try and help bring a halt to it.

"My issue isn't with the council at all. However, if bogus removal guys don't verify the disposal, how do people know where it ends up? 

"The council is picking up the tab for this local issue but it's the residents who are also having to pay the price."

READ MORE: Council's fly-tipping teams in Glasgow called out 19,300 times

We previously told how Glasgow City Council had to tackle the highest number of fly-tipping cases in Scotland over the last year.

A Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives found that council teams had to be sent out a staggering 19,313 times to deal with thoughtless dumping all across the city.

The data also revealed that more than 60,000 cases were recorded across all of the country's local authorities in 2022.

MSP Murdo Fraser told the Glasgow Times the figures were ‘alarming’ and called for tougher controls and new legislation to tackle what he described as a 'growing scourge' on communities.

He added: “The irresponsible, destructive and criminal dumping of refuse and waste at unauthorised locations leaves landowners and public authorities facing substantial costs.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council added: "The utter contempt with which cowboy companies treat people, when they charge them to dispose of rubbish responsibly, then dump it in communities with blatant disregard for the environment or the people who live there, is disgusting.

“We are working closely with residents and local landlords to tackle the issue. Council teams have repeatedly been out to the waste ground to remove fly-tipping. This has soaked up time and money which could have been used constructively to enhance the city, rather than clearing up after criminals.

“We’d ask residents to continue to report any incidents and also to be vigilant – noting and reporting vehicle registration numbers, if at all possible, to help us move against those responsible.

“Our Environmental Health officers will also examine the debris for evidence which could lead to those fly-tipping. Their investigations were instrumental in securing the recent successful prosecution of ‘Man with a Van’ director, Stuart Allison, from Bearsden, whose firm was caught dumping household waste at Dalsetter Crescent in Drumchapel.

"The 53-year-old was fined £750 and ordered to pay the council compensation of £1900 for the clean-up. His 44-year-old employee Steven Hutton, from Coatbridge, was fined £750.”