Authority takes firm line with landowners on rubbish

Council officers from Wakefield Council will be watching hotspot areas and Coun Clive Hudson, the authority's Cabinet member for the environment, is asking residents to do the same.

The council has also written to all businesses to work with them and warn them of the consequences if they do not keep their land clear.

He said: "We're doing our utmost to keep the district attractive and litter-free but it's also up to private landowners, including householders with gardens, to make sure they do their bit.

"It is their responsibility to keep any land they own free of dumped rubbish or litter so we are making a big push to ensure this happens."

He added: "We've got to the point now where litter on private land is causing a nuisance to residents and it needs to stop. We are actively seeking out this type of litter and contacting the landowners to tell them to clear it up."

If landowners do not clear the area after receiving litter clearance notices from the council, it will serve a notice which means they must clear the rubbish within 28 days. If they do not do this, they can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice of 100 or be prosecuted. The council can also clear the land itself and then charge the landowners.

Recently, residents told the council about a piece of land which seemed to have been used as a tip.

Neighbourhood patrollers visited the area, spoke to the landowner and gave them 24 hours to clear the litter. This was not done so the council issued a notice letter which led to the land being cleared.

The council's rapid response team also picked up litter from the grassed area near the railway line and Yorkshire Electricity has cleaned and removed litter from some of its land on the same site.

"This is a good example of what can happen when we work together," Coun Hudson added.

"That area now looks much better and I hope this action will spur landowners on to clear any litter which is a blight on the landscape," he said.

Litter clearing notices are designed to make land owners take responsibility and clear litter.