A rise in fly tipping incidents in the locality, has prompted a County Councillor for Saundersfoot, to push for a CCTV review around one of Pembrokeshire County Council’s own waste and recycling centres.

County councillor for Saundersfoot’s south ward, Cllr Chris Williams said that it was disappointing that he had to report several incidents of fly tipping during recent weeks.

“One case involved an old mattress, pillows, linen, and bags of waste being dumped on Devonshire Drive near the recycling centre at Crane Cross,” he remarked.

“It is possible this occurred due to individuals being unaware of the booking requirements at the site. I raised this matter with Pembrokeshire County Council, requesting that CCTV be reviewed where possible and that the waste be removed promptly to prevent further incidents.”

A second case involved five bags of waste being left just off Fan Road near a residential driveway.

“This was particularly frustrating, especially as it had reportedly been there for several weeks before being brought to my attention,” continued Cllr Williams.

“Both incidents resulted in unnecessary use of staff time and public resources, although I am pleased they were addressed following engagement with PCC.”

Cllr Williams went onto praise the efforts of volunteers around the seaside village, who regularly organise litter picks. Sam from Ecoast recently organised a day of community action, bringing together volunteers from Saundersfoot Rotary, Wombles, Community Council, residents and visitors.

“The event was once again a great success. In total, an impressive 90kg of litter was collected, of which 40kg was recyclable, highlighting both the scale of the effort and the positive environmental impact made by the community,” he continued.

“An early team covered Ridgeway, Fan Road, Fountain Head, and down to St Issell’s. Encouragingly, this stretch showed a reduction in litter compared to previous collections, with just four bags collected, weighing 8kg, including 0.55kg of recyclable material.

“Another early group covered St Issell’s Church, Errox Hill, Ivy Chimney Lane, Sardis, Hean Castle Estate, and down to Coppet Hall, collecting a total of 6kg of waste. Valley Road was also included, with 6.25kg gathered along that route.

“Disappointingly, litter levels around Saundersfoot Sports Field and the surrounding area, with a dedicated Saundersfoot Womble working independently, collected 2.65kg of litter, including approximately 1kg of plastic sports drink bottles.”

An organised beach clean also saw volunteers come together to clear Saundersfoot’s main beach, back beach, and Coppet Hall beach, resulting in 10.1kg of waste being collected, with 0.5kg suitable for recycling.

Adding to the community spirit, two visiting families collected a further 1.1kg of plastic and even created a beach art rainbow alongside a Womble volunteer!

Meanwhile, two Wombles made the journey to Monkstone Beach with a trolley, collecting a remarkable 56.6kg of waste. Of this, 38.15kg will be recycled, including rope, netting, plastic bottles, and even a lobster pot.

“Events like this truly demonstrate the strength of community spirit in Saundersfoot and the shared commitment to protecting and preserving our beautiful village,” added Cllr Williams.