Landowner’s anger as council refuses to remove drugs waste
Christopher Davies found used needles and drug taking equipment on his land in Rhydfelin. He has found used needles and other drug taking material on his land has hit out at the authorities for not helping him.
Christopher Davies, who lives on Heol-Y- Bryn at the top of Rhydfelin, only noticed the “dangerous waste” on his land last weekend.
When he saw there were used needles among the rubbish, he contacted Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to ask them to get rid of the waste, but he said they refused as they said the waste was on private land.
Christopher, 46, said: “I live on the side of Eglwysilan mountain. In the winter, I hardly go on the land but in the summer I usually take my grandchildren up there.
“Last Sunday, my grandchildren noticed there were children playing on the land and as it’s my land, I went up to shoo them off, which is when I noticed a tent and lots of rubbish.
“I’ve since found out from a local farmer that the tent has been there since Christmas.
“When I looked closer at the rubbish, I noticed there were used needles and tin foil and things used to take drugs.
“I didn’t want to touch any of this as it’s contaminated, dangerous waste. So I contacted the council but they won’t help me remove it.
“I pay more than £2,000 a year in council tax and they’re saying there’s nothing they can do. I don’t know what to do with it as I don’t want to touch it because it’s so dangerous.”
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/landowners-anger-council-refuses-remove-8664822
In fairness to the Council, they make it abundantly clear that they, as all other Councils, do not accept liability for the removal of drug waste and needles etc from private property.
They may take action against the property owner when it is believed that the public will be at risk, and really should take a rather more pragmatic approach toward needle finds on private residential property where some idiot has tossed a used needle over a garden wall.
However, for private land owners the responsibility for and cost of clearance cannot be passed to the Council or anyone else, at least unless a culprit has been found and a civil claim is successful. Some chance.