Council “Fly Tipping” on Private Land
Dear Sir,
I write this in response to Mr. John D. Clare’s recent article regarding the increase in charges for the removal of garden waste for 2018 and onward.
In particular the do’s and don’ts of the alternatives. He mentioned that if you were to dump your garden refuse over the garden fence onto council land, you could be fined for “Fly Tipping”. I am a resident of Woodham Village where my property is bordered by a bridle path with an overhanging Ash tree of many years of age.
Consequently at a particular time of year it tends to shed not only it’s leaves but, as Ash trees are prone to do, it’s twigs and branches as well.
So my garden is absolutely covered in the leaf/branch fall of the offending tree. Also, because of the proximity of the branches, my garage roof is infested with moss, to which it will cost me money to get removed.
I am in my early 70’s and suffer from a Chronic respiratory disease, and every year I have to clear the Council’s rubbish from my garden, then they have the audacity to charge me for taking it away. As the tree in question is standing on Council land and it is depositing it’s leaves etc onto MY land isn’t this tantamount to indirect Fly Tipping? Why should I be charged for clearing up the mess caused by the Council’s trees?
I have contacted the Council many times over the years to ask them to trim back the offending branches so they don’t encroach over my garage roof. Guess what? I repeatedly get told “Because of cut backs we are attending to emergency issues only”.The residents of Woodham Village will know that we all pay a very high rate of Council Tax, but just try and get some service from what you pay for. Talk about cut backs, ironically that’s all I’m asking for to “Cut Back” their tree.
Mr. A. Elders, Woodham Village
Garden Waste
With regard to the letter entitled ‘Garden Waste Collection Fees’.
Whilst I object to paying for this service it is still cheaper than the cost of paying someone else petrol money to transport my smelly waste in the boot of their car (I don’t drive).
I do however object to paying for the removal of some eighteen 100 litre bags of leaves blown onto my property from the council property (a wood). As these accumulate after the Garden Waste collection has finished I have very little in the way of options to remove them.
As they are council property I would maintain that I am saving the Council time and labour by collecting them and disposing of them. Therefore I believe the Council should pay me for carrying out work and propose to send them the bill for labour and expenses!
Yours Faithfully
Peter Shepherd
