Local Liberal Democrats have slammed Haringey Council for encouraging fly-tipping by failing to provide suitable arrangements for disposing of bulk rubbish. The comments come after a local resident discovered the public waste disposal (‘civic amenity’) site in Park Road, Tottenham Hale was closed and was told that the nearest open site was a full five miles away in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Lib Dem Councillor Lynne Featherstone contacted the Council to find out why the site was closed and why there were no alternative arrangements for residents to dispose of their bulky rubbish locally. She was informed that the site had been closed for redevelopment and although a facility has now been set up at the Technopark, Ashley Road (N17), it is only open at weekends between 7.45am and 4pm.

Cllr Featherstone believes that the Council’s response to the tip closure is unsatisfactory and that this episode is another example of the Council’s failure to manage waste issues effectively in the borough – despite the size of the waste management budget. She is deeply concerned that this latest problem is yet another excuse for people to fly-tip rather than dispose of bulky waste responsibly.

Cllr Featherstone comments:

“The Council has once again shown how incompetent they are at managing waste in the borough. They have spent £5 million on Better Haringey but they are throwing their money away if they cannot plan for a temporary closure of a tip in the Borough.”

Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson Cllr Bob Hare added:

“Charging £15 to collect bulky rubbish has increased fly-tipping. Having a temporary tip that even council employees don’t know about and is only open at weekends is only going to compound the problem.”