City council sets up Grot Spot hotline thanks to Peterborough Telegraph readers

A dedicated grot spot hotline will tackle the city's dumped waste thanks to the persistence of Peterborough Telegraph readers.
Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171544009Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171544009
Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171544009

Peterborough City Council leader John Holdich said he had to take action after seeing the many grot spot photos sent into the PT.

Earlier this month we asked our readers to identify the worst hot-spots for fly-tipping and littering in the city.

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And lots of you sent in photos of bin bags, mattresses and beds which are blighting Peterborough’s landscape.

Rubbish left on Bridgehill Road (Pic: Chris Goodacre)Rubbish left on Bridgehill Road (Pic: Chris Goodacre)
Rubbish left on Bridgehill Road (Pic: Chris Goodacre)

Councillor Holdich said: “It’s true to say I got the idea from the PT. I thought ‘why should they have to come to the PT?’ Why do they not come directly to the city council?

“I will set up a reporting line that goes straight to our enforcement team that will deal with it straight away, and if they can identify where it comes from take appropriate action.

“At the same time, Amey will be given instruction to remove it. I need to stamp it out. It costs a lot of money and I can’t have a few people messing up this city.”

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A Spring Clean of the city saw more than 50 tonnes of rubbish cleared over a month, but the new approach from the council will instead focus on prosecuting individuals if there is evidence to do so.

A grot spot in EastfieldA grot spot in Eastfield
A grot spot in Eastfield

The council is also investigating whether to introduce on-the-spot fines for fly-tipping after new powers were granted to authorities.

Currently, it costs taxpayers in Peterborough £250,000 a year to clear up fly-tipping.

The new hotline will come into force in the summer.

For now, residents can report fly-tipping using the My Peterborough App, or by calling the council on 01733 747474. Cllr Holdich added: “I would encourage people to report it. Low level crime has not been a priority of the police but, working with the police, I will take on low level crime.”

Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171504009Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171504009
Rubbish left at Storey's Bar Road, Fengate EMN-161005-171504009
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The council leader also said the city’s new Prevention and Enforcement Service - a collaboration of council, police and fire - which began last month to tackle anti-social behaviour, has already achieved “fantastic results.”

He said the team has dealt with “103 abandoned vehicles, 253 cases of anti-social behaviour and 462 fly-tips. And they’ve issued 1,394 fixed penalty notices.”