Seaside streets strewn with litter - Pembrokeshire's flytipping problems continue

With more and more public bins vanishing from where they once were on busy seaside streets, due to Pembrokeshire County Council officers’ belief that removing the facilities, will somehow lead to less fly-tipping and littering, is it a case of ‘damned if they do, and damned if they don’t’ for the Local Authority?

It has been noticeable in recent months that public bins once situated in prominent spots such as by Tenby train station, and on main steps leading down to the town’s popular North Beach, are no more! A Saundersfoot county councillor has also admitted that some facilities have been removed from parts of the coastal village due to constant abuse and fly-tipping, in the main from those leaving their stay at holiday lets and accommodation.

However, it is certainly noticeable that much like the zombies in Dawn of the Dead, who return in their hordes to the shopping malls that they frequented the most when their brains still functioned fully, people still head to these public places to dump their large refuse sacks, carrier bags, fast food containers, beer bottles, and general waste in the very same spots.

Near to the North Beach someone has even tied a dog poo bag to the fence where once the bin was sat, and by my estimation, it has been there now for just over a month.

Since the start of 2021, Pembrokeshire County Council told the Observer that it had issued eight Fixed Penalty Notices for fly-tipping, 17 warning letters or verbal warnings; and 10 Community Protection Warning Notices under Section 43 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

In recent months a ‘rogue trader’ was handed a prison sentence of 19 months after admitting a series of charges following a prosecution by Pembrokeshire County Council Trading Standards, Public Protection Division.

Ashley Price pleaded guilty to 16 charges and appeared before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing, with the catalogue of offences, dating from February 2019 to January 2022, including - theft, fraud, fly-tipping incidents and multiple counts under consumer protection legislation.

The investigation also involved officers from Dyfed-Powys Police and the Waste Management Team of Pembrokeshire County Council.

The court was told that Price, of Waterston Road, Milford Haven, was partly caught after police officers received a report of a significant fly-tipping incident in Herbrandston, where a bathroom suite had been dumped.

The levels of littering and fly-tipping discovered around the seaside village of Saundersfoot recently were slammed by a county councillor for the South Ward, Cllr Chris Williams who reported that throughout March he went out with ‘Team Littlefoot’ volunteers on a litter pick, and seemed to spend most of the walkabout collecting rubbish ‘thrown out’ by passing motorists onto the roadside around the area.

“We met near New Hedges roundabout and walked back to the farm shop on the Moreton Road - and it was incredible the amount of rubbish we collected and bagged up on the side of the road,” remarked Cllr Williams, who said that on their trip, litter pickers even discovered that a van had seemingly pulled up on the side of the road in the locality, and thrown out 10 large pieces of metal into the hedgerow that wouldn’t have even fitted into a car!

“I would like to express a big thank you to all other groups and individuals who continually go out and pick up rubbish from the outskirts of the village. If there are areas of concern in the village, please let me know so we can arrange a clean-up,” he said.

With it against the law to use public street bins to dump household and commercial waste in, this has led to the Local Authority to labelling such facilities with warnings.

“We’ve had a lot of complaints of household rubbish going into street bins in and around town,” explained Pembroke Dock town and county councillor Joshua Beynon.

“A thank you to the Pembrokeshire County Council team for putting new stickers on the bins about the waste you can put in the bins. Each bin has a QR code for a quick report too!”

Cllr Williams also highlighted the new public bins around Saundersfoot, pointing to the information attached, advising that bins are not for domestic or household waste.

He said that he had worked closely with his fellow Saundersfoot county councillor (for the North Ward) Cllr Alec Cormack with the team at PCC, with regards to having new bins with smaller openings and information displayed to reduce the amount of fly-tipping that takes place, and the aim to stop ‘unscrupulous individuals’ from abusing the system within the village.

Cllr Williams said that one bin on The Strand had been removed as it continued to be abused by the flats opposite and holiday apartments on a daily basis.

He said that he had worked closely with PCC’s licensing team regarding trade waste agreements, taking a joint approach with letting agents and take-away outlets to ensure that they have the correct bags for collection and that their waste isn’t going into the public bins.

As part of a co-ordinated approach, Cllr Williams was amongst local county councillors who met with officers from PCC earlier this year to highlight more and more bins being abused, often by those leaving holiday lets, and also by residents dumping domestic waste in the facilities.

Cllr Williams recently said that he was astonished to find that an organised litter-pick of Saundersfoot one Saturday morning this year saw ‘an incredible’ 39 sacks of rubbish collected by volunteers, in just the space of a couple of hours, mainly from roads and lanes outside the village centre.

He also said a discussion had come up recently with Saundersfoot harbour staff, and he was shocked to find out that the harbour collects over 11,000 bags of rubbish annually!

“Saundersfoot is blessed to have a dedicated team who regularly keep on top of the bins and streets of the village,” remarked Cllr Williams.

“It has become apparent however that a minority flaunt the rules and spoil it for everyone else. During the summer months there is a weight of two tons every day from the village bins.

“Unfortunately, some contaminate the recycling process which in essence, contaminates the whole bin.

“Numerous times locally, trade waste has been found when full bins have been ripped open to investigate. PCC staff have also caught local residents and holiday let apartments abusing the system.

“It’s not up to the local residents to pay for this service, it needs to be a joined up approach with all parties so every holiday home/holiday let is accounted for.”

Cllr Williams said that May had been particularly busy, especially with the good weather coinciding with the half term, which in itself brought many challenges to the community and the services that Pembrokeshire County Council provides.

“I must say though, that there appears to have been a drop in fly-tipping of late and this seems to be down to a few factors - with residents now well aware of the problems of waste we have faced in the village, and having all new bins with smaller openings around the village has helped,” explained.

“There are actually more bins available than previously. Unfortunately two were removed due to constant fly-tipping, one was on The Ridgeway and the other on The Strand.

“Regarding the Strand this was a real concern as bags were being placed behind the bin and that attracted rodents in the covered bank behind.

“Regarding the bin on the Ridgeway it could be an option for county councillor Alec Cormack and I to work with PCC on this, as I know many local residents feel a small proportion of individuals have abused the bin provided.”

During the month, Cllr Williams said that he had tried to make himself available especially on change over days for holiday properties, which resulted in him taking details of six holiday apartments that he’d caught taking their waste to public bins.

“After discussions it’s quite clear from all of the individuals that they are totally unaware that this is fly-tipping,” he stated.

“All have stated that there are no provisions at their property to recycle or keep waste containers and bags. There simply isn’t enough storage.

“I have taken the details of the properties and have passed them onto Pembrokeshire County Council. My view is that all holiday units should make provisions for their waste and each property should have its own waste carrier who disposes of their waste correctly.

“There are many excellent waste operators who separate the waste and recycle as much as they possibly can. The holiday firms in the village I know are working extremely hard on this but there has to be strict enforcement on the holiday units who don’t comply with getting rid of their waste correctly.

“I’m looking at taking this further so that every holiday unit available in Saundersfoot should be accountable for their waste. Local residents shouldn’t be impacted by unscrupulous owners who see this as just a business,” added Cllr Williams.

He stated that the council team who empty the bins reported that they noticed a ‘huge reduction’ of fly-tipping since the facilities were introduced with smaller openings on the bins.

Cllr Williams also stated that there had been an uptake in businesses that have bought bags from PCC for their waste disposal, and over the last few weeks the County Council has also chased holiday properties who didn’t have the correct waste disposal system at their property, with PCC advising them on what they have to do to comply to the regulations.

“This is heading in the right direction but there is still plenty of work to be done to improve things further,” continued Cllr Williams.

“Also a big thank you to all the Holiday Companies in Saundersfoot who have requested their owners to provide information on their waste disposal and whether they are certified as waste carriers. All of this is starting to make an impact and I will continue to work with PCC and the holiday companies,” he added.

Back in Tenby, and town councillors have questioned the ‘logic’ of the local authority, in taking away public bins for the seaside town.

Earlier this year, correspondence came before members highlighting the matter, with one local resident realising whilst out walking their new pet pooch, that a bin placed at the entrance of the train station car park (on Warren Street) had now been taken away by PCC.

“Imagine my dismay and absolute horror to find that the waste bin positioned at the entrance to the Railway Station car park has been removed? Why? Where am I supposed to drop filled doggie poop bags now?” asked the resident in their letter to Tenby Town Council.

“I understand from some of the locals and other dog walkers that the bin has been removed for some time by PCC due to people depositing household rubbish in the bin? God forbid!

“It's probably tourists and holiday makers or second home owners who don't understand the foibles of the PCC refuse collection system!

“It also appears and please be aware that despite the lack of the waste bin, plastic bags and sacks of household rubbish including uneaten food are still being left by the station entrance, despite the lack of a bin. The seagulls when they return to breed will have a whale of a time opening the bags and pulling the rubbish all over the road. What a wonderful sight for visitors coming off the train to witness?

“I’ve also been told that rats have been spotted running across the station car park, no doubt encouraged by rotting, uneaten food. In itself a health hazard.

“Can I ask, therefore, via the mechanics of a Tenby Town Council meeting, that the issue of the provision of rubbish bins not just at the station car park but across all of Tenby to be discussed and appropriate lamentations be urgently made to our masters in Haverfordwest? Tenby the ‘Jewel in the Pembrokeshire Crown?’ - I think no longer,” they added.

Indeed, the ‘problem bin’ by the railway station car park was highlighted by a local previously in correspondence to the Observer, with one local resident stating: “For two mornings in a row now, seagulls have ripped apart bin bags with food waste in that have been left by the side of the bin by holiday makers or possibly residents. Maybe it’s time to introduce fines or remove the bin?”

A similar scenario had arisen a few years ago with another ‘problem bin’ being removed from the popular St Georges Street, that was situated in between Joys and Pipers Fish and Chips shop, near to the entrance of the walled town just ahead of the historical Five Arches.

Discussing the matter dubbed ‘bin-gate’ by Cllr Duncan Whitehurst, councillors were in agreement that taking away more and more public bins, did not seem to be a sensible solution.

“The idea that if a bin is ‘overused’ they take it away, when really they should be placing two in that location! I’d like someone at PCC to explain the logic in that,” commented Cllr Whitehurst.

The town clerk Andrew Davies said that it seemed that more and more domestic rubbish was being placed in such bins, giving another example of one that had been taken away from The Glebe after someone kept filling it with cat litter.

“It is an offence to put domestic rubbish in public bins,” Mr Davies told councillors.

Cllr Laurence Blackhall said that the matter needed to be seriously addressed, and even though it might inflame people, a lot of the blame for public bins being abused he believed, lay at the doors of holiday lets, he told his fellow members.

“I know of such properties that advise people to do it. Why should the public pay for it? If you look at the prices some of these holiday lets charge, it is nothing short of greed. They should have a proper waste management agreement in place!” remarked Cllr Blackhall.

At the time when she was Tenby’s Mayor, county councillor for the south ward Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall had even taken it upon herself to write to letting agencies in the seaside town to urge them to make sure that they had proper arrangements for the collection of waste from their properties at the end of each letting period, after town councillors had once again heard reports of overflowing street bins being used for household waste and black bags being dumped near to bins.

According to Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall, council staff emptying the bins had noticed more and more people bringing all their waste to the bins, with some explaining that there were no bins provided at their holiday let.

“I have been made aware of holiday properties where the welcome pack for guests specifically tells people to use street litter bins for all waste. This is not acceptable,” she said.

“Owners of properties should be planning for the disposal of waste. There are many options open to them including getting a trade waste agreement for weekly collections.

“It is not fair on the residents of Tenby. We pay our Council tax to have our own domestic waste collected and we also pay for street waste collections.

“Why should Tenby residents subsidise holiday let owners who refuse to make proper arrangements for waste collection.

“I am sick and tired of being in town early each morning and seeing rubbish strewn across the streets because it has been left by bins or dumped. Why would you come to such a beautiful place and treat it with such little respect? It is also not fair on our hardworking staff who try so hard to keep the town tidy,” she continued.

Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall explained that it was not all holiday lets responsible, with many having arrangements in place for waste to be collected or removed by cleaning teams at the end of the week and disposed of properly, adding: “It is now time for the letting agencies to be clear with their clients that everyone must deal with their waste.

“If they don’t do this, I will be discussing with the Local Authority to see what enforcement action can be taken.

“Tenby being beautiful helps sell their business and many are making a lot of money. All we are asking is for them to do is help keep Tenby tidy.”

With the ‘Green Big Green Week’ taking place last week, seeing community volunteers joining forces for litter picks, Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall offered praise to those that continually help out in trying to keep the town’s streets and beaches clean and tidy.

“I am pleased that so many groups in Tenby are now doing regular litter picks,” she remarked.

“This includes our schools, who are doing this as part of their environmental awareness work. Before half term, I popped into St Telio’s School with Mr Nicky Young, area maintenance manager for Pembrokeshire County Council, and Rebecca Lewis, a parent whose children attend the school.

“PCC have equipped the school with litter pickers and bags, and they have made arrangements to collect the litter each week.

“We have more and more people who do this every day on all of our beaches and many who look after their streets and neighbourhoods,” she continued.

Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall said that recently she spent some time with the ‘fantastic’ PCC area maintenance team, who after being alerted to rubbish that had been thrown into The Ritec on The Green, reacted in extra speedy time to conduct a clean-up.

“The boys waded in to clear it up, pulling out five shopping trollies, three road signs and various other obstructions!” she revealed.

“They always go the extra mile. We are fortunate to have a team of people like this working for us,” she added.

As well as Tenby and Saundersfoot, fly-tipping at the nearby village of Penally continues to be a concern, members of the Community Council recently reported.

County Councillor for the ward, Cllr Phil Kidney said that fly-tipping on The Ridgeway was an ongoing concern, and that the Local Authority was looking into ownership of land, with a view to discussing issues with the landowner. In recent times, recycling facilities at the village’s railway station car park were being abused too.

Some holiday accommodation operators have taken to social media to whinge at the County Council for making if impossible for those holidaying in the town to use the Waste and Recycling Facility at Crane Cross on the outskirts of Tenby, New Hedges and Saundersfoot, as before entering one of Pembrokeshire or Carmarthenshire County Council’s waste centres, residents are required to show proof of residency (one of the following - driving licence, your current Council Tax bill, a utility bill), or a permit if your vehicle requires one, to the site attendant.

A county councillor for Narberth recently tried to garner views on booking slots at local waste recycling centres, after a number of residents reported a number of missed collections by Pembrokeshire County Council’s refuse collecting staff.

Cllr Marc Tierney who represents the town’s urban ward told members of the Town Council wanted to hear from residents if the booking system works for them, and how accessible is the Crane Cross facility to Narberth households. He also wanted to know how many Narberth residents used to previously use the Whitland facility.

Speaking to the Observer, Cllr Tierney said: “Access to waste and recycling facilities is an issue that frequently comes up in conversation.

“I know that before changes were introduced, residents would often use Whitland due to its proximity with Narberth.

“I’m keen to look at how we can work across county boundaries to ensure that we’re making facilities accessible and sustainable and making decisions that help to reduce our carbon footprint and unnecessary travel.”

Appointments are no longer required for any of Carmarthenshire County Council’s recycling centres, including the Whitland Recycling Centre situated on West Street. However, even though this site lies closer to many that live in Narberth, residents of the town are not permitted to use the facility, as they come under the banner of Pembrokeshire, and are required to use the Crane Cross Waste and Recycling Centre, on the outskirts of Saundersfoot on Devonshire Drive, located nearly 10 miles away.

All of Pembrokeshire’s waste and recycling centres are open for households, but are still run on a booking system, which was introduced by the Local Authority during the pandemic, and anyone arriving without a pre-booked slot will be turned away.