We won’t let kids play outside after fly tippers dumped dangerous mounds of rubbish yards from our front doors
RESIDENTS on an estate say they won't let their kids play outside after fly tippers dumped dangerous mounds of rubbish yards from their front doors.
Williton Road in Cardiff has become a common dumping ground for fly tippers and has pushed locals to breaking point.
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"It’s lovely, the families pull the sofas out of their homes and we sit and enjoy the bonfire.”
His relative shouts in agreement as she walks by.
She said: “I wouldn’t even go on there now with the grandkids because you wouldn’t know what’s in there.”
Craig added how he was worried about the bonfires and the effect on his kids and other youngsters.
He said: "Me and my mate Dave spent five hours on Wednesday clearing one of the bonfires up to make it look nice, but this one has got out of control now.
"They are dumping it with no thought of how dangerous it is. There are loads of kids around here and that’s a danger."
Pointing to his own bonfire a short walk away on the green, Craig explains: "Look at mine. It looks like a bonfire doesn’t it? It’s good, it’s all wood and good material.
"But this one has just got black bags, all sorts of rubbish. That’s a hazard that is [pointing at the mess in the opposite direction]. I have five kids and I wouldn’t let them go anywhere near it.”
Stella Regan has lived on the estate for 10 years and says she’s “never seen anything like it”.
Her house looks right out onto the field, and she says she is growing angrier about what she is having to put up with.
Stella said: “It’s absolutely enormous and dangerous. A man drove up in his car as I was coming back with my dog and dumped it
“I came out of my house earlier on with my husband and I saw another person dump a carpet on it.
“I told him this is my home and you can’t do that, but he wasn’t taking any notice.
"Year on year this has got worse and worse and now it’s just awful to have to put up with."
Year on year this has got worse and worse and now it’s just awful to have to put up with."
Stella Regan
And she claims the dumping has resulted in a dangerous mess with the fire services already having to attend on one occasion.
Stella continued: “We’ve never objected to any bonfires, but the last five years it has gotten totally out of control.
"We had the fire brigade the night before last because someone started the fire there. They’re going to have to remove it, it’s far too close to my house.”
Another resident, who has lived on the estate for 60 years and preferred not to be named was in agreement
They said: “We’ve accepted the bonfires every year, but this is something else. I’ve seen vans pulling up and tipping washing machines, doors, fences, you name it.
It’s beyond belief and it’s a danger to people. I’ve said to my kids, they’re not building a bonfire - they’re building a huge wall.”
Others have come to pick up items from the dumping ground, believing it is a "waste" to just throw things away.
A man who has come to pick some wood said: "I’ve just come to pick up some stuff. It’s good wood they’re chucking away.”
“Look at all the toys here,” he says, pointing to a scooter and a teddy.
“They could be given to a single mother. They could go to charity. It’s such a lazy waste.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “We adopt a zero tolerance approach to anyone caught fly tipping, and our Waste Enforcement team investigates all reports of fly-tipping to try and identify those responsible.
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“Fly tipping is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of up to £50,000. Very serious offences could result in a fine plus up to five years in prison. A Court may also order an offender to pay costs for all removal undertaken by the Council.
“If anyone spots fly-tipping, the most effective way of reporting it to us, is via our website or via our Cardiff Gov app. That way, we will have an exact location and all the information necessary to investigate.”