Asbestos dumped next to the road - council refuses to action

daugapils

Hi
Our house is located near a riverbank and our garden fence is about 5 meters away from the riverside path. Main road is about 30 meters away if you look from the back of our garden.This is a residential area and road is used heavily by pedestrians.
The pathway next to the river has been used by flytippers few times last year and council sent contractors to remove the waste when I reported it.
Last week however someone dumped a pile of asbestos not on a pathway but between our garage door and a pathway, basically a meter away from the pathway.
I have reported it to council but they refuse to action saying this is not their land. They don't know who's land is between the pathway and our garage door.
Isn’t it council responsibility to investigate who owns the land and action?they are not interested to investigate further. This is an open space close to a pedestrian road and other peoples gardens.Besides being a toxic waste it is a big eyesore.
Am I correct to assume that it is council's environmental services task to investigate who is the owner of this land and make sure owners remove it?
I am considering reaching out to my MP as I did not get much interest from the council.

Furts

A difficult one . But if you own your home, is it your land? Is it on your Deeds? What did you research and establish when you purchased?

If you are a concerned tenant, and all credit to you for being so, then you have dropped a little bo--ock here. The savvy thing would have been to move the asbestos a little distance onto the council's land before reporting it.

With the broader picture one has to be fair to the council. We live in an era of austerity and cut backs. The council cannot be held responsible for fly tipping on land they do not own. If they were, where would this stop? Equally there is land out there where people do not know who owns it. For example, there is a significant area almost beside my home. Plus another one almost opposite my home. It happens!

Hermione_Granger

Contact the council again and state that you have spotted a serious health and safety issue.
Tell them that when it was windy over the past couple of days, you have seen dust from the pile of asbestos being blown onto the council owned pathway.
It might also be worth contacting your local newspaper and sending them a photograph as once it's in print you may see something getting done fairly quickly

daugapils

Furts wrote: »

A difficult one . But if you own your home, is it your land? Is it on your Deeds? What did you research and establish when you purchased?

If you are a concerned tenant, and all credit to you for being so, then you have dropped a little bo--ock here. The savvy thing would have been to move the asbestos a little distance onto the council's land before reporting it.

With the broader picture one has to be fair to the council. We live in an era of austerity and cut backs. The council cannot be held responsible for fly tipping on land they do not own. If they were, where would this stop? Equally there is land out there where people do not know who owns it. For example, there is a significant area almost beside my home. Plus another one almost opposite my home. It happens!

Thank you
The land is not on my deeds , otherwise it would make sense for me to clean it up .
As for moving the asbestos from someone's land to council control land - this seems for me as a the same as orginal fly tipping and most probably a criminal offence.
This is very close to the road and properties. I am convinced that council environmental services should be taking care about toxic waste being near the residental properties and public road.

daugapils

Hermione_Granger wrote: »

Contact the council again and state that you have spotted a serious health and safety issue.
Tell them that when it was windy over the past couple of days, you have seen dust from the pile of asbestos being blown onto the council owned pathway.
It might also be worth contacting your local newspaper and sending them a photograph as once it's in print you may see something getting done fairly quickly

Thank you.
I am planning to reach out to a MP and make an official complaint in writing to the council.I will also send an email to the local paper with the picture. I believe that council environmental services should be responsible for any health hazard in a vicinity of peoples houses and public roads

Davesnave

There's at least 3 ways of looking at this:

• it's the land owners's responsibility
• it's the council's responsibility
• it's my responsibility

However, these beliefs aren't mutually exclusive.


I asked myself what I'd do if the same thing had happened where I live. Much to my surprise, I found that it would be me out there in the rain this morning, bagging the stuff up and storing it sealed until my next trip to the tip.


I wondered why and the answers:came back as:

• it'll attract more rubbish dumping
• it's affecting me as an eyesore/possible future hazard
• it'll not cause me any great danger or inconvenience to sort it out as part of my responsibility to care for this community

I agree that it's the job of environmental health to prosecute where there are serious incidences of fly-tipping, even on private land, if the owner is colluding with it or failing to deal with a problem.

However, in the case of land where there's no clearly identifiable owner, the council's officers may take the view that their time is better spent elsewhere. We might not like this approach, but it's probably one they can justify according to their rules.

So, that's what I'd do, just like I walk along the road here periodically and collect the crap people throw from vehicles. Technically, that's the council's job, because it's alongside their road, but I'm a realist and I don't want that sort of stuff on my patch while I wait to see if someone will sort it out. After all, if they can't fill the potholes and keep the drains clear.....

Nick_C

Its very expensive to clear a hazardous flytip, so I can understand the Council not wanting to spend your money on this when it's not their responsibility.

You could try calling the EA. Or report it to Crimestoppers.

Incidentally, is it board or bonded asbestos? And are you sure it is asbestos?

Furts

Davesnave - you are worrying me. I too adopt your approach, tidy the verges and hedgerow, and also interact with numerous folks in the vicinity. Which makes me think I have a doppleganger in Devon, or you have a doppleganger in some less rural location elsewhere?

Coming back to OP, and adding to my previous thoughts ...most people recognise "asbestos" by referring to corrugated roofing sheets. Some folks would point out soffit boards, or cladding panels. When viewing these examples the general approach is they are relatively safe - folks are not in mortal danger by touching them. Which prompts a question. Could OP simply collect up the items and take them to the nearest recycle/council facility? If so, this proactive approach is far more neighbourly than bothering ones busy MP.

If there is no car, or there is an infirmity, or whatever, then engaging with neighbours can be proactive and beneficial. Which of course, is a bit of the reasoning behind Davesnave's approach to his surroundings.

Davesnave

Furts wrote: »

Davesnave - you are worrying me. I too adopt your approach, tidy the verges and hedgerow, and also interact with numerous folks in the vicinity.

I don't think it's exclusive to the countryside, but it's true that many people here take responsibility where they can for their patch.

For example, I found it hard to do much more than an occasional visit to an ill old lady down the lane, but another neighbour cooked her lunch each day for nigh on 6 months.

Debbie_Savard

This happened where I lived, as if by magic one night all the material moved from the verge onto the road.

stator

What type of asbestos are you talking about?

Also if it's close to your land install your own high-def CCTV with night vision. Help catch the fly tippers next time

Best approach is to contact the local paper. My local paper love articles about fly tipping. Must be clickbait or something