TOUGHER controls on dumping rubbish at a nearby council waste site are being blamed for an increase in fly-tipping on an industrial estate at Somerford.

Factory boss Roy Francis says people being turned away from the tip in Wilverley Road are leaving their rubbish in the roads, car parks and commer-cial waste skips on the adjoining business park.

The problem is worse at weekends and Mr Francis arrived at his firm GRP Profiles on Monday to find his skip piled high with household rubbish.

He has even had to contend with bulky items such as washing machines and fridges left in his parking spaces in the past and he is unable to secure his skip after vandals set fire to it and damaged the lid.

Mr Francis said the fly-tipping had increased in recent months after measures were introduced to stop tradesmen using the Wilverley Road tip illegally.

"It is an ongoing nightmare. There is rubbish left every-where."

He has contacted tip operator W & S recycling, owner Dorset County Council, Christ-church council, police and the Environment Agency to no avail in an effort to stem the tide of dumping.

"They suggest I install a CCTV camera but we are only a small firm and can't afford it. If it wasn't for the tip, we would not have this problem," said Mr Francis.

" I don't want it shut down, because it provides a useful service but I want them to play ball and install a camera at the tip gates. It would be a deterrent and if it leads to a prosecution it would be even better."

Dorset County Council spokesman Dave Blackburn said only trade vehicles were turned away if they did not have an exemption permit and that fly-tipping was due to people arriving at night after the gates were shut. Rubbish dumped in the road was quickly cleared the following day.

"We try to be a good neighbour and do whatever we can but it is down to the owner to deal with fly tipping on private land," he said.

First published: Oct 21