Disgust as fly-tipper dumps rubbish - including a cat litter box with faeces on it - at scenic Sutherland roadside spot
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A Rogart woman has hit out at people who are fly-tipping at the Mound near Golspie.
Lizzie Johnston said: "I was utterly disgusted to see that somebody had fly tipped a disgraceful amount of rubbish just off the A9 Rogart junction at the Mound last week.
"This is a regularly used fly tipping area but the quantity and variation of rubbish was a shock. There was everything from plant pots to shower attachments, sweet tins and what looked like the top of a cat litter box – still with faeces on it. Not only is this a disgusting eyesore but it is also a danger to our local wildlife.
"After going home to collect gloves and bags to clear it up I consulted with my husband, Matthew, who reminded me he had picked up rubbish there many times already and so after careful consideration I have chosen not to. Whoever is fly tipping is sadly seeing it being cleared up and choosing to do it again and again. There have been no repercussions so I have no doubt they will sadly continue."
Mrs Johnston, a mother of two, added: "The first few times we noticed the rubbish and cleared it up, we thought it was probably being tipped by the same person because it seemed to be at a similar time and also similar content but more recently I think it is other people as well who have maybe seen stuff there and just added to it."
Russell Jaffrey of Brora has contacted the Northern Times asking: "Could someone from Highland Council perhaps put an explanation out to the public why it was thought right to padlock/shut down the recycling facilities at Ardachu, just when gardens are springing into life, when all you have to do is drive in, deposit your waste into the appropriate skip, then drive out with no human contact. All this action will achieve is an increase in fly tipping."
A Highland Council spokesman said: "The Highland Council is following UK and Scottish Government's instructions that only essential journeys should be undertaken during this lockdown period – ie for food shopping and medical supplies, or if you are a key worker and unable to work from home. This does not include the public making journeys to visit recycling centres.
"We are also managing staff absences within the service and prioritising staff to work on keeping our household and commercial collections running as normal – which they are doing. If the public have any queries about waste and recycling services they should email recycle@highland.gov.uk
"We can issue fines for fly-tipping from £200 to £20,000 or offenders can receive six months in prison (up to five years if hazardous waste is dumped). If anyone witnesses fly-tipping then can report it 24/7 using online forms at www.highland.gov.uk/report."
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