BLACKBURN MP Kate Hollern writes her fortnightly column for the Lancashire Telegraph. Have you ever popped to the shop to buy a pint of milk and seen a mattress down a side street, or some bin bags on a strip of grass? Constituents raise hundreds of similar fly-tipping cases with me every year. My first reaction is always the same: why do people fly-tip? Don’t they realise the harm it causes communities? Fly-tips are unpleasant, an eyesore and often smell. They also cost Blackburn with Darwen Council hundreds of thousands each year to clean up. The government has stopped collecting data on how much it costs to clear fly-tips but according to its latest data from 2016-17, councils spend an estimated £58 million a year. That’s money that could’ve been spent on other services such as social care.
Blackburn MP Kate Hollern s column: The costly mess of fly-tipping thisislancashire.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thisislancashire.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Volunteer Ikhlaq Hussain began picking up litter in his neighbourhood in January and is now alongside others in his area, shifting dozens of bags of rubbish each week. Here, he explains why he wants to inspire others to help keep their streets clean. I initially applied for a litter-picking kit because I wanted to volunteer for a good cause and intended to keep the front area of my road clean. I stumbled upon the opportunity by chance when Googling and joined the ‘Keep Blackburn Tidy’ group after receiving my kit. When I saw all the wonderful posts on this amazing group, I decided I wanted to make a difference to my area.
Volunteer Ikhlaq Hussain began picking up litter in his neighbourhood in January and is now alongside others in his area, shifting dozens of bags of rubbish each week. Here, he explains why he wants to inspire others to help keep their streets clean. I initially applied for a litter-picking kit because I wanted to volunteer for a good cause and intended to keep the front area of my road clean. I stumbled upon the opportunity by chance when Googling and joined the ‘Keep Blackburn Tidy’ group after receiving my kit. When I saw all the wonderful posts on this amazing group, I decided I wanted to make a difference to my area.
Fly-tipping is a blight on all communities in East Lancashire and only seems to have gotten worse during the coronavirus pandemic. From piles of rubbish left in alleyways, to sofas, beds and kitchen sinks dumped at the side of roads, the situation is dire, and despite continued effort from local councils and volunteer groups, the mess keeps on growing. One man who probably knows more about fly-tipping than anyone else, is Wayne Dixon from Blackburn. Keep Britain Tidy ambassador, Wayne Dixon and his dog, Koda, who are taking part in the Great British Spring Clean Mr Dixon, 49, along with his dog Koda, have been travelling the length and breadth of the country for many years, making it their mission to collect litter and clean up the nation s coastlines.