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Monday 17 May 2004

NETWORK RAIL CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL FLY TIPPING

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Network Rail is cracking down on fly tipping on the  railway at Bowes Park Station and is appealing for the public to help. Over the past few months Bowes Park Station has suffered from an increasing number of fly-tipping incidents.  Waste materials such as household rubbish are most commonly dumped, but in the case of Bowes Park Station dirty needles and used nappies have also been discarded, which could have severe consequences on health and hygiene. Illegal dumping of rubbish on railway land, particularly embankments, is a major headache for Network Rail.  It poses a potential hazard to the safe running of the railway if any objects fall on to the tracks, encourages vermin such as rats and spoils the local environment.  Network Rail regularly has to deal with objects as large as beds, refrigerators and bicycles, any of which could have severe consequences to railway safety and can delay train services. The cost of fly tipping to the industry is immense with over £250,000 per year spent on clearing line side rubbish in the Great Northern area (Kings Cross to Doncaster, Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire) alone.  Further expenses are sustained when specialist companies have to be brought in to clear up hazardous waste such as dirty needles and used nappies thrown onto Network Rail’s property.  £2,000 alone was paid to a specialist company just to clean up Bowes Park Station.                                                          - more -                                                                                                                         Fly Tipping – 2 Graham Botham, General Manager, Great Northern Region, Network Rail said: “We recognise that the visual impact of our infrastructure is important for both passengers and our lineside neighbours and are working hard to clear the line side of rubbish but no sooner is an area cleared, then it is illegally littered again.  We are keen to hear from the public and local community organisations who would like to work with us to keep the environment clear of litter.  By working together with the local community, Network Rail can tackle this problem and create a safer, cleaner, greener railway.” Network Rail appeal to the local community to report any incidents of fly tipping direct to the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or to the Network Rail Helpline on 08457 11 41 41. The public should try and note the following details: ·        The date, time and place where the tipping is taking place, or has occurred and descriptions of the individuals involved ·        What the waste is and approximately how much of it there is ·        A description of any vehicles involved and the registration number.