Banff and Buchan MP calls for tougher penalties on illegal dumping
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David Duguid MP has called for tougher penalties on those illegally dumping rubbish in Aberdeenshire after just 15 fixed penalty notices have been issued in Aberdeenshire over the last six years despite more than 5000 incidents occurring.
New figures obtained from Aberdeenshire Council show the local authority has been called to clean up 5382 incidents since 2016, with the highest number of cases in Buchan.
A total of 1148 cases of illegally dumped rubbish in Buchan have been flagged to the council in the last six years with just eight fines handed out – the highest number of fixed penalties in Aberdeenshire.
In Garioch, 996 cases of fly-tipping have been reported but only two fixed penalties have been issued.
A further 974 incidents occurred across Kincardineshire and Mearns resulting in just one fine, 911 cases in Banff and Buchan with just three fines, 816 incidents in Formartine with just one fine and 535 in Marr resulting in no fixed penalties.
Mr Duguid has supported a bill from his party colleague Murdo Fraser MSP, which seeks to increase sanctions for fly-tipping, including by lifting the current fixed-penalty notice of £200, improve data collection of incidents and to guarantee the person whose land the waste is disposed on is not responsible for its removal.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid said: "These figures show we are seeing a tsunami of appalling fly-tipping incidents across Aberdeenshire which are going unpunished.
“I regularly attend beach cleans across my constituency where I am deeply saddened to see our beauty spots blighted by the irresponsible dumping of household goods.
“It is completely selfish and unacceptable to dump waste at unauthorised locations. It is the public, landowners and our local authorities such as Aberdeenshire Council who are left to pick up the pieces.
“Enough is enough – we must change the law in Scotland so that tougher punishments are put in place to crack down on those who think fly-tipping is acceptable.
“Our communities should no longer be used as dumping grounds which is why the Scottish Government must back this new bill to strengthen current laws against fly-tipping.
“I also call on Aberdeenshire Council to look again at removing appointment booking for recycling centres where appropriate.”
Fly-tipping Fixed Penalty Notices by Council Area:
Buchan Area: Issued on the following dates - 30/09/16; 23/03/18; 13/11/18; 20/05/19; 06/03/20; 07/07/21; 01/10/21; 21/01/22
Banff and Buchan Area: Issued on the following dates - 20/11/19; 18/08/20; 20/01/21.
Garioch Area: Issued 27/2/2020 and 2/3/2020.
Marr Area: None.
Formartine: Issued 22/07/2021.
Kincardine & Mearns: Issued 18/01/22.
