THURROCK Council workers turned out at midnight overnight to respond to a major fly-tipping incident at a spot that is gaining notoriety for the crime.

The alarm was raised late yesterday evening (Tuesday, 28 april) by local councillor Neil Speight around 11pm last night when he and his son discovered that Gun Hill near West Tilbury was effectively blocked by dumped material including a sofa and a fridge freezer. There was also a significant amount of glass and wood with nails in, as well as rocks and rubble.

Cllr Speight, who was returning from a Tilbury Community Forum meeting, called police on 999 because he felt an urgent response was required and they in turn flagged it up with Thurrock Council.

Council workers at the site.

Within half an hour a crew were on site and made the road safe, with an investigation and full clearance operation scheduled for this morning.

"This is becoming a growing blight on our countryside," said Cllr Speight, who together with his son Jack helped clear debris off the road.

"I can't fault the response time of the council and I also thank the police for responding positively to my call but the time has surely now come to grasp the seriousness of this problem and to put deterrent measures in place and take the job of investigation, enforcement and prosecution with far more intent. Fly-tippers are almost assured of a free ride in Thurrock at the moment becasue of cost-cutting.

"Yet cost cutting on enforcement, invetigation and a deterrent is probably not cost effective because it costs a fortune to clear up the mess and dispose of the trash properly."

advertisement

Jack Speight helping clear up the fly-tip at Gun Hill last night.

Debris on the road, which takes in a steep incline, was spread over around 100 yards and is believed to have been caused by fly-tippers opening the back of a lorry or van and letting gravity do the dumping job as they drive up the hill.

See Nub News Facebook report here.