Fly tipping on an ‘industrial scale’ plaguing Lothian beauty spots

Since the lockdown began in March and recycling centres closed, villagers in Dalmeny have been horrified by the scale of illegal waste being dumped.

And worried neighbours have reported “intimidating” door-to-door salesmen offering to take away rubbish for a fee, then disposing of it illegally on farmland.

Around seven rural sites near the village have been targeted by thugs, amid fears that fires could spread through the fields during the summer months.

A demolished cottage has become a dumping ground, and large quantities of trash has been left in a field on the outskirts of the town, next to the Edinburgh Gateway to Dalmeny railway line.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a neighbour said: “It’s got a lot worse in the last 12 weeks since lockdown started.

“The scale of it’s through the roof.

“There’s people going round doors to upload rubbish, getting paid and not caring what they’re doing with it.

“It’s easy to dispose of and leave them by the cottage.

“They’re also taken up in a field near a railway line then they set fire to it.

“It’s big stuff like kitchens and mattresses, but also small items like tyres. Someone dumped a running machine as well.

“The dump sites are getting closer to where we are and are a fire hazard, especially with the fields getting drier.

“It’s a major eyesore. They’re doing it on an industrial scale.”

Police Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have been alerted by worried residents.

And Edinburgh City Council is unable to act as it is private land.

The neighbour added: “I know from speaking to police and landowners that farmers are getting intimidated.

“There needs to be something to make people aware that if they’re getting their houses emptied they need to know where that stuff’s going.

“This stuff is getting taken out and dumped every night. There must be six or seven dump sites.

“Some of the bigger ones you can’t see from the road, they are out of sight in fields.

“They can offload big amounts of stuff without being seen – they do it when it’s dark.”

Police Scotland declined to comment and SEPA have been approached for comment.

Meanwhile, in a move which should help reduce fly-tipping incidents, council chiefs in the Capital have revealed the latest stage of the reopening of recycling centres.

From Monday people will be able to book a slot, for June 22, which will allow trailers into centres. There will be no limit on the number of visits a resident can make.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We’ve worked really hard to get recycling centres back up and running.”

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