Media centre

Monday 30 Nov 2009

HARWICH RAILWAY CLEAN-UP NETS SEVEN TONNES OF FLY-TIPPED RUBBISH

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Seven tonnes of rubbish was removed from the railway in Harwich this weekend after Network Rail and Tendring District Council joined forces to clean up a fly-tipping hotspot.

The clean-up event followed reports that people from outside the area have been using the alleyway behind properties on Ingestre Street, Albert Street and Albemarle Street to dump rubbish illegally onto the railway embankment.

Saturday's haul included shopping trolleys, wardrobes, bicycles, beds, mattresses, televisions, sinks, fire extinguishers as well as huge amounts of scrap metal and black sacks of household waste.

The railway is a prime target for litter and flytipping by members of the public. Not only is this a nuisance for people living alongside the railway but it can also cause problems for the railway itself. Litter attracts rats to the railway and rats like to chew on signal cables, which can lead to signal failures, delays and even accidents.

Network Rail’s maintenance team cleared the junk from the railway embankment into the alleyway where the council’s team stood by to move the waste into waiting refuse lorries.

Chris Curtis, Anglia route general manager for Network Rail, said: “Fly-tipping is not only illegal, it blights neighbourhoods and threatens the safe running of the railway. Working with the council, our team has cleaned up an embankment which has long been targeted by mindless fly-tippers. The difference is fantastic and will make a positive difference for residents and people using the railway.”

Cllr Lynda McWilliams, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Tendring District Council said: “We were delighted to be able to team up with Network Rail to help tackle this issue. The council takes fly-tipping very seriously and supports any effort to reduce this type of environmental vandalism.”

Fly-tipping on the railway is illegal and carries a fine of up to £1000. Each year Network Rail spends large amounts of money removing fly-tipped rubbish from railway property – money that could otherwise be invested in improving the railway. Anyone who has a problem caused by litter or fly-tipping on the railway can contact Network Rail’s National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41.

If fly-tipping occurs elsewhere on other land, such as in the alleyway, the matter should be referred to TDC on 01255 686768 or alternatively they can report the incident via the website on wcrusader@tendringdc.gov.uk.

When reporting incidents of fly-tipping to TCD or Network Rail it is helpful if residents can give details of the date, time and any vehicle registration.