Paisley community sees impact of fly-tipping patrols as task force makes its mark

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Hundreds of "pro-active" patrols have been conducted at fly-tipping hotspots in Renfrewshire as a task force bids to stop illegal dumping at the source.A total of 679 visits to identified problem areas have been completed since the bespoke unit became operational in December, with 215 tonnes of waste removed and 35 fines handed out.A breakdown of the data was included in a report to Tuesday's communities and housing policy board, which provided an update on efforts to clamp down on the behaviour in the local authority area.It revealed 623 reports have been investigated in that time, 34 letters sent to private landowners, 46 visits to businesses carried out and six sites secured to prevent further fly-tipping.The task force inspects evidence left in bags, searches for potential witnesses among nearby residents and monitors CCTV camera footage as it tries to identify the culprits responsible for unsightly piles of rubbish.Terry McTernan, chair of Ferguslie Community Council and project lead at Darkwood Crew, said in February the impact of the project was yet to filter down into the community.Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download.Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week.The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the award-winning Express, will focus on breaking news, day and night, across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.There is also a dedicated St Mirren section that will follow every kick of the ball with the Buddies. Available on both Android and Apple.