New deputy leader of Lincolnshire County Council urged to increase hours of Spalding tip to tackle fly-tipping

Pressure has been placed on the incoming deputy leader of Lincolnshire County Council to increase the opening hours of Spalding tip.

Members of South Holland District Council called on Spalding councillor Rob Gibson to support the fight against fly-tipping by having the Household Waste Recycling Centre in West Marsh Road remain open for longer.

Tattershall Castle councillor Sean Matthews and Coun Gibson, who was leader of South Holland Independents until defecting over to Reform earlier this year, are set to be taking over the leadership of the county council at a meeting on Friday (May 23) after the party won 44 of the 70 seats on the authority.

Coun Gibson’s responsibilities will be local government reform, communications, complaints and community engagement, according to papers listed with the agenda.

However, his former South Holland Independent colleague Michael Booth - who regularly raises the issue of fly-tipping in the villages - asked for Coun Gibson’s help during the last district council meeting.

Coun Booth, who represents Sutton Bridge, said: “Is it possible for this council to write to Lincolnshire County Council - and we have the deputy leader in front of me - I am hoping the new council will help us on this by opening the tip in West Marsh Road for more days. I think that will help people to take their rubbish to the tip. When it’s closed I wonder where it all goes.

“Another thing we could do a campaign encouraging people to take their rubbish home.”

He also asked if the council were going to increase fines issues for fly-tipping to the same levels as East Lindsey District and Boston Borough Councils, who are the partners in the South East Lincolnshire Partnership.

Currently, Spalding’s tip is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays but open from 8am to 4pm for the rest of the week.

Coun Anthony Casson deals with fly-tipping enforcement for South Holland under his public protection portfolio.

At the meeting Coun Casson said: “I would be in full support and hope that the (tip) could be open for longer. It would be a great benefit I am sure to help with fly-tipping if it could be open for longer.”

Coun Casson also stated that he would talk to the officers about further coverage over tackling fly-tipping and said there were plans to increase the fines.

Spalding councillor James Le Sage highlighted the issues caused by people putting out their bin bags days ahead of their collection.

He said: “I happened to visit the new carpet shop opposite the Sessions House and they are plagued by rubbish put out from the flats above the old Free Press office.

“If we are every going to get nice shops in the town centre, we have to make sure the town is clean and free from rubbish.”

Coun Le Sage called for the site in The Crescent to be visited daily to tackle the problems along with a similar problem at the Little London end of his ward.

He also asked if letters had been sent out to residents of Lucknow Lane to aske them them to leave their rubbish at the end of the lane.

Coun Le Sage added: “Fines should be dramatically increased so these people don’t consider doing it again.”

Coun Casson said that he would look into the issues raised but said that Kingdom officers were responsible for enviro-crimes in the whole of South Holland.

Concerns were raised by Coun Manzur Hasan about anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The St John’s Ward councillor said that he appreciated the improvements made to the Sheep Market toilets and the addition of the sheep statues but highlighted the lack of enforcement and police visibility in the town.

He said: “Residents say they are scared to go there.”

Coun Nick Worth stated that there would be regular police patrols in the town centre following the Spalding Town Board investment to fund a dedicated officer.

Calls have recently been made to make improvements to Bourne tip.

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