Litter louts blight beauty spots (From Stroud News and Journal)

Litter louts blight beauty spots

ANGRY residents have hit out at fly tippers cluttering the countryside outside Stroud with unwanted junk.

Tony Glastonbury of Uplands is among those who are fed up with lazy litter louts spoiling the roadside in Folly Lane by jumping rubbish.

"It's been a problem for quite a while," he said.

"But last week someone dumped a fridge and freezer up there, right in the countryside."

Batteries, car tyres and bits of assorted machinery including an industrial polisher have been dumped in a small patch of woods where Stroud gives way to the surrounding farmland.

"I've met other people walking past there who have said how disgusted they are," said Mr Glastonbury.

"I've actually removed a lot of the rubbish myself in the past. It's not my land but I walk past there every day and it's an eyesore."

"Whoever's dumped this stuff will have had to load it into a van - why they couldn't go that bit further and take it to Horsley tip is beyond me.

"I can't believe how lazy people are," he added.

"It's a nuisance when others have to put up with the rubbish that's been left by irresponsible people."

Carlos Novoth, Stroud District Council's waste contracts manager, said there was no excuse for fly tipping.

The council will collect unwanted household waste such as furniture, carpets and white goods free of charge.

At the moment people need only call the council on 01453 754424 and someone will call round to pick up the waste within ten days.

From April 1, when new contracts come in, people will be able to book a specific time for the rubbish to be collected.

The council cannot, however, offer the same service for trade or DIY waste.

"But we don't get much of a problem with people fly tipping rubble and other building materials," said Mr Novoth.

"It tends to be the things we will pick up anyway that end up being dumped. It's a crazy situation."