Mandale Park makeover

Date article online: 06/07/2006

More than 40 tonnes of fly-tipped waste are being removed from Mandale Park in Rochdale.

Rochdale Council is taking action at what has become a serious fly-tipping hot-spot, and is warning that stronger action against fly tipping is promised.

Machinery was moved onto the site on Wednesday 5 July, and work will continue until Friday. This will remove both fly-tipped materials and dense undergrowth, which traps the waste. Once the embankment is cleared, it will be allowed to regenerate naturally, with some limited planting.

The authority is also stepping up its enforcement against fly-tipping and other environmental crimes. A new post of Environmental Crimes Officer is being created, funded by the Safer, Stronger, Cleaner initiative. This scheme will oversee the increased use of mobile CCTV to gather evidence against fly-tippers as well as working more closely with the Police and the Environment Agency to tackle organised dumping by a minority of business and contractors.

Lead Member for Environment amp; Sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "Under new powers that the Council has adopted, anyone found guilty of fly tipping waste could be fined up to £50,000 or even face imprisonment. The Council can also force private landowners to clear fly-tipped waste and litter from their land.

"It amazes me at the lengths some people will go to dump rubbish especially in areas such as this that clearly compromises the natural habitat, encourages rats and other pests which is to the detriment of environment and to everyone living in this area."

Background information

A new fence line is being installed following the clearance at Mandale Park in an attempt deter further tipping in this area. Peter Cunningham Acting Head of Service for Environmental Management said: 'this is a very steep hillside that makes it impossible for our Streets Teams to remove rubbish by conventional methods." 

This clearance and the installation of the fencing has been made possible by The Rochdale Township who allocated the funds to bring in specialised contractors with tracked wheel vehicles to assist in moving the rubbish to the bottom of the hillside.