‘Inconsiderate’ fly-tippers condemned by Ditchling Common resident

A resident has condemned ‘inconsiderate’ fly-tippers for dumping a pile of rubbish on Ditchling Common.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Steve Elliott said he spotted the dumped goods while out for a walk.

The 63-year-old said: “We live on Ditchling Common. There is a track which leads to our house and our two neighbours in Janes Lane. The partially tarmacked track is about a third of a mile.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“On Saturday evening I was walking down there and I thought, I bet now the tips are closed somebody is going to start fly-tipping, and that is what has happened.

Fly-tipped waste on Ditchling Common. Picture contributedFly-tipped waste on Ditchling Common. Picture contributed
Fly-tipped waste on Ditchling Common. Picture contributed

“Someone has driven up and dumped a whole load of stuff on the track and I can only think it is because all the tips are closed.

“It is just disappointing how people behave sometimes.

“Everyone is so impacted at the moment so it is a shame to see inconsiderate people ruining the countryside for us all – which we are enjoying a bit more now while on lockdown.”

Steve, who works in software development, said he reported the fly-tipping to Lewes District Council on Monday (March 30), and was told there had been a spate in fly-tipping in the district.

Picture contributedPicture contributed
Picture contributed
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“They said they can’t do anything about it because it is not on a public road, it is on East Sussex County Council land and therefore the county council has to deal with it,” he commented.

“I got a call back this morning (April 1), to say that the matter had been passed on to the county council.”

Steve said he was sadly not shocked to see people ‘behaving so badly’ and with a lack of consideration for people’s welfare.

“I know it is minor in the scheme of things and what is going on right now but it is a small matter of consideration – it is unnecessary,” he said.

Picture contributedPicture contributed
Picture contributed
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“You see so many good stories and it is horrible that there are people behaving like this.

“The council don’t want to deal with this sort of thing – they are stressed enough as it is right now. Their revenue is down because they are not getting business rates.

“And because of the reduction of traffic now, you can hear the wildlife more. You can notice the birds singing and it is completely silent, which is lovely. So it is a shame to see this sort of thing.”

The county council confirmed last Monday (March 23), that its ten Household Waste Recycling Sites had been closed until further notice in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It said it had taken the decision to ensure the safety of the public and its staff, following government guidelines on social distancing.

It added: “With a very high number of people using the sites in recent days, the risk of the virus spreading has increased.

“District and borough councils are doing their very best to collect waste and recycling, and we would ask for patience and understanding from the public during this time.

“We would also ask residents to think about reducing their waste where possible and recycling as much as they can through their kerbside collections.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A county council spokesman said: “We were made aware on Sunday (March 29), of some flytipping on a public bridleway at Ditchling Common and arranged for this to be removed within 24 hours.

“Flytipping is a criminal offence which not only despoils beautiful countryside sites such as this but places an increasing demand on public services at a time of national crisis when all local authorities are under considerable pressure.

“We’d urge anyone who has any information about this specific incident to contact our rights of way team by emailing [email protected] or for flytipping generally to get in touch with their local district or borough council.”