Wokingham

Residents in Devitt Close in Shinfield are enjoying a cleaner environment thanks to Wokingham District Council’s community wardens who have removed fly-tipping from the area last week.

For the past six months residents have had cause for concern over illegal fly-tipping on a privately-owned piece of land on Devitt Close. When the Wokingham community wardens were patrolling the streets of the district and acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of local communities, they were approached by a local residents’ association with their concerns that fly-tipping was becoming a health hazard in Devitt Close.

And last week (February 23) Wokingham community wardens Rebecca Eggleton and Mark Methven removed the fly-tipping and took it the community skip on Halls Lane in Shinfield. Mark said: “We are here to help improve local communities and sort out problems, which is why we ask residents to work with us so that together we can make a real difference. And this was the case in Devitt Close. As the land is privately-owned the landowner is supposed to deal with the fly-tipping. However, as the problem had been going on for several months we decided to remove it to improve the environment for all the residents.”

Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for community safety, said: “Quality of life is important to our residents and fly-tipping can cause real concern. The wardens have spent time building relationships with local residents in Devitt Close and this was a one-off good-will gesture by the wardens to remove the fly-tipping in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.”

Wokingham district council spends on average £150,000 a year on clearing and disposing of fly-tipped waste from the pubic highway, open spaces and council housing areas around the district. Fly-tipping is the ‘dumping’ of rubbish onto a piece of land, which does not have a licence to accept waste. It is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution with fines of up to £20,000 or six months’ imprisonment.

Wokingham district council urges residents to report anyone fly-tipping on (0118) 974 6339 or 974 6307. The community wardens can also be contacted by phone on (0118) 974 3798 or via email: communitywardens@wokingham.gov.uk. The wardens are happy to speak to anyone who may have concerns and any information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Wokingham District Council