CLYDEBANK residents have been urged to be on the lookout for rogue behaviour after a recent spate of fly-tipping in the area. 


West Dunbartonshire Council has ve warned of door-to-door callers offering home improvement services who may not dispose of waste properly. 


It follows following a “significant amount” of rubbish, including paving slabs and old garden fences, being dumped in east and central Clydebank ands well as other areas across West Dunbartonshire. 


A fixed penalty of £200 can be handed out to anyone caught fly-tipping, or if the matter ends up going to court, a fine of up to £40,000 or imprisonment can be imposed. 


Both the council’s Environmental Pollution Group, which deals with fly-tipping, and Trading Standards are working together to tackle the problem and raise awareness amongst residents. 


Councillor Kath Ryall, convener of corporate services, said: “Fly-tipping is irresponsible and not only blights the areas where it occurs, but also costs the tax payer every time illegally dumped items have to be removed. 


“While it might be tempting to have work carried out by companies offering cheaper prices, unless you have carried out the proper checks to ensure they are legitimate, then think again. 


“It is your responsibility to ensure that any waste produced on your property is only taken by someone who is a registered waste carrier. If you don’t and the waste is then dumped illegally, then you could be held jointly liable along with the fly-tipper.” 


To help assist local residents to get reputable tradesmen, the council has recently launched a Trusted Trader scheme which provides residents with a dedicated website listing approved traders, who have all gone through a strict vetting process. 


Councillor Tommy Rainey, vice-convener of corporate services, said: “We need our communities to work with us to help rid West Dunbartonshire of these rogue traders and clamp down on fly-tipping. 


“The Trusted Trader service offers a reliable source of information, providing residents with feedback from previous clients, allowing them to make an informed decision about who should carry out their home improvement works,” he added. 


MeanwhileHowever, Dalmuir and Mountblow Community Council chairman Daniel Lennie, has criticised the uplift scheme, which charges residents £17.54 to remove bulkier items. 


He said: “When lift-up charges were introduced, I made my feelings very clear at the time – you start charging then fly tipping increases, it is clearly a no-brainer. 


“We sadly live in one of the most-deprived areas of the UK. To charge residents to uplift a fridge or whatever would clearly lead to an increase in fly tipping. 


“Why spend £15 you don’t have when you can simply dump it? 


“I don’t know the true figures... (but)as in uplifts paid to cost of clearing fly tipping apart from council figures, figures I suspect may not be as accurate as they claim, in my honest opinion the uplift scheme has cost a lot more than it has ever saved and should be scrapped.” 


For more information about the Trusted Trader scheme, go to www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/trusted-trader


To report incidents of fly-tipping call 01389 772059 during office hours or 07917 076733 out of office hours.