For some years now, Old Lodge Lane in Kenley has been soiled by the anti-social behaviour of fly tippers.
In recent months, fly tipping activity has greatly increased along the passing laybys, verges and distressingly the road itself. As a narrow, winding, country road this is incredibly dangerous. One fly tip left debris down the road for 50m.
Cllr Ola Kolade and I have been working closely with very senior Council Officers and Cllr Scott Roche, Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment to:
- Get existing flytips removed
- Implement deterrence measures to try and prevent future tips.
Responsibility for maintaining the woodlands and nature reserve of Dollypers Hill has now been passed back to the council from Surrey Woodland Trust. This means that the council is responsible for clearing up the flytips in the area and the council has undertaken to remove the unsightly fly tips that are along the road.
Going forward, residents can report flytips and other environmental issues directly to the council for them to clear up. If a flytip is dumped out of hours and it is dangerous ie on highway causing an obstruction, the council’s out of hours service should be used; 020 8726 6000 it should route through to the control room. The image below shows the other ways that this fly tips can be reported – as always LoveCleanStreets is our friend!
Flytipping is hard to crack down on. Ola and I have already asked the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team to patrol the road more often in the evenings, which they have agreed to. Environmental Enforcement Officers are sifting through the fly tips for evidence and action will be taken if any is found. Additionally, the council has committed to further deterrence measures, that it wouldn’t be appropriate to list on a public blog. Residents, councillors and officers will be keeping a watchful eye on the road.
An additional way to deter anti-social behaviour is to ensure Old Lodge Lane is well maintained and clean - similar to the broken windows theory that the Mayor is a strong advocate of; an unkept area encourages more anti-social behaviour. Several woodlands and parklands in Croydon have ‘Friends Groups’ which are made up of local residents that work in partnership with the council and take practical action to improve their park or open space. Funding is available for Friends Groups. Ola and I will run a consultation to see if there is any interest in setting up and getting involved a Friends Group for Dollypers Hill and Old Lodge Lane. Do you let me know if you think that this is something that you might be interested in.
Ola and I know that the rubbish and flytipping situation in Old Lodge Lane has been unsightly, frustrating and dangerous for some time now, but I think that we have agreed a way ahead.
Thank you to all residents and road users for bearing with us whilst we sort this situation out. As ever, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, issues or concerns – either now or going forward.
