FLY-TIPPING in Alexandra Park has been described as a Òhealth hazardÓ by councillors.

Fridges and kitchen sinks are among the items that have been dumped in the park by,councillors believe, residents living around its perimeter.

Town clerk Linda Tiley told members how much the disposal of the items was going to cost.

ÒI have got a quote from one company. ItÕs going to cost £5,000 to clear it. We have paid for the area to be cleared in the past and that cost us £2,000 but that was a few years ago and with volunteers helping as well,Ó she said.

Andrea Moxon called the site a Òhealth hazard for childrenÓ and questioned whether or not the town council was going to have to pay for the clearing of the rubbish time and time again.

Finance and policy committee chairman Don Mayes said: ÒIt is in a terrible state. In fact I donÕt know if any of it is toxic.Ó

Taking photographic evidence of the rubbish was suggested by Zoya Faddy who felt that the photographs should then be sent to the housing association and the district council so that they were aware of what was going on in the park.

Councillors also felt that the district council should visit the site to see the problem for themselves.

Mr Mayes proposed that a strong recommendation was made to full council at the end of February for the district council and the housing association to be informed of the problem and that photographs of the site should be taken and forwarded to them.

The proposal came after a site visit by councillors following a discussion by members of the planning and amenities committee in November 2001 about fly-tipping.

After the meeting Mrs Tiley sent out letters to every resident in the area informing them of the Òconsequences of fly-tippingÓ but since then councillors said the problem has got worse.

Mrs Tiley said: ÒIÕve had householders coming into the council offices complaining about the problem - it is by no means all of the residents who are fly-tipping.Ó

Members agreed to recommend Mr MayesÕ proposal to full council and also to recommend that the council does pay for the site to be cleared.