A pile of rubbish including a trampoline, a scooter and a a child’s electric motorbike has been dumped at a Letchworth cemetery, just yards from where people have been laid to rest – and authorities have today appealed for witnesses.
The fly-tipping at Wilbury Hills Cemetery in Letchworth – the second such incident at the cemetery in the last three months – happened sometime around Thursday, January 12.
And North Herts District Council environmental crime officers have launched an investigation to find the culprits – with Councillor Peter Burt expressing his dismay that fly-tippers could show so little respect.
“A cemetery is a place of peace, contemplation and remembrance,” he said.
“It saddens me that the people who have dumped this waste can show so much disrespect and moral negligence.
“We treat fly-tipping very seriously and will prosecute anyone caught disposing of waste in this way and we would urge anyone with any information about this incident to come forward.”
The items dumped included a trampoline, a child’s electrical motorbike, a scooter, a whirlwind hoover, drums of paving sealant, floorboards, carpets, metal poles and electrical cabling.
A photograph of the fly-tipped rubbish posted on the district council’s Facebook page has been shared 60 times, with users taking a similar line to Mr Burt.
One wrote: “They take the time to load it into a van and drive to dump it. Why not drive to the actual council dump? It’s not like they get charged! I don’t see the sense in it.”
Another commented: “The people who do this have no moral compass. They care for nothing and no one – yet when they are caught they blame everyone but themselves.”
A third added: “At a cemetery! How low do these people go? Disgusting.”
If you’ve witnessed fly-tipping, you can report it using the Do It Online facility at north-herts.gov.uk.
The same website has information about how to dispose of your rubbish correctly, and about the district council bulky waste collection sevice.
For a list of registered waste carriers, see environment-agency.gov.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here