Following the admission that the council spent £75k on clearing up instances of flytipping over the past municipal year, another bad case has surfaced online.

Herts Advertiser: This big mound of rubbish was dumped on Coleman Green Lane in SandridgeThis big mound of rubbish was dumped on Coleman Green Lane in Sandridge (Image: Archant)

In March the Herts Advertiser reported that there had been a 40 per cent increase in flytipping over the municipal year and that St Albans council tax payers had forked out £75,000 to clear the illegally dumped rubbish.

Photos were posted online on Sunday (5) of a large mound of rubbish on Coleman Green Lane in Sandridge, opposite Heartwood Forest, raising concerns about flytipping once again.

Users of Facebook, where the pictures were posted, commented that the rubbish had been there for a number of weeks.

Sandridge parish council clerk, Simon Thwaites, thought that the current rubbish mound had been mistaken for separate instances at the same site and said that the district council was very efficient at clearing up the mess.

Herts Advertiser: This big mound of rubbish was dumped on Coleman Green Lane in SandridgeThis big mound of rubbish was dumped on Coleman Green Lane in Sandridge (Image: Archant)

But he added: “It’s horrible, absolutely horrible. One of the problems is people see it being taken away and it eases their conscience; they don’t feel bad about the consequences of dumping their rubbish.

“It’s a serious issue and it’s a huge problem. People should take responsibility when they employ contractors that they are respectable.

“It’s awful as it’s such a beautiful area, why would anyone do this?”

Adrian Pullar, of St Albans, posted on the St Albans Facebook group where the photos were published, that the blame for people dumping their rubbish lay with the council and the private company running the household waste site.

He said: “With so many restrictions on using the ‘Tidy Tip’ what do you expect? This is the fault of the council and the private company running it. Expect a lot more ‘till [sic] waste disposal in the area is properly addressed.”

St Albans council’s head of legal, democratic and regulatory services, Mike Lovelady, said: “Most people hate fly-tipping, a crime that leaves an unsightly blot on the landscape.

“The council works closely with the police to investigate fly-tipping incidents and to prosecute those responsible, where possible. We have arranged for our waste contractors to remove the fly-tipped waste at Coleman Green Lane and we will be investigating the incident.”

If you come across any fly-tipped waste, you can email the details to wastemanagementservices@stalbans.gov.uk or call the council on 01727 809019.

Mr Lovelady added: “If you see someone dumping waste, please call the police immediately on 999, giving them as much information as possible, including details of the vehicle involved.

“A photo could help us provide the evidence we need for a successful prosecution. Please do not approach the fly-tippers or do anything that may put yourself in danger.”