A WEYMOUTH beauty spot is being blighted by fly-tipping.

And the problem on the Rodwell Trail is linked to issues associated with the Dorset Waste Partnership's refuse collection, a councillor claims.

Ian Bruce says domestic waste not being collected by DWP is being dumped on the trail by residents instead.

Residents have kicked up a stink after the trail, a popular walkway and cycleway, was blighted with litter problems.

Weymouth resident, Eddie Chapman said he noticed problems with the litter building up over a period of two weeks. The rubbish has since been cleared.

Eddie, 56, said: “I use the trail at least once or twice a week.

"There are bins all along the walkway and all of them were overflowing and it was just a mess.

“There must be a schedule to have them emptied on a regular basis.

“It looked a disgrace.”

Clearing the bins comes under the responsibility of Weymouth and Portland's parks and open spaces team which work with the Friends of the Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Castle to maintain and improve the area.

But there is a 'growing problem' of people dumping domestic waste on the trail.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Community Facilities spokesman Cllr Ian Bruce said: “Our parks and open spaces team clear the bins on the Rodwell Trail three time every week and are very sorry that a growing problem of people bringing domestic waste to either in or around the bins are spoiling people’s enjoyment of the Rodwell Trail.

"The waste was not left for over two weeks, there is a regular schedule in place and the litter bins are emptied every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

"There are a lot of issues with waste that have arisen following changes to the Dorset Waste Partnership and as a result the primary problem is that people are now fly tipping.

"Unfortunately people are not getting their bins collected because they were not put in the right place at the right time and this has led to them using other places, like the Rodwell Trail, to dump their rubbish.

“However, having said that, it is no excuse for fly tipping and it is disheartening for our staff who work so hard to maintain all the borough council’s gardens including the award winning Sandsfoot Gardens along the Rodwell Trail.

“The team also clear rubbish on the embankments along the trail where it is safe to do so and accessible.”

Cllr Bruce stressed the parks department works hard to ensure the Rodwell Trail is kept up to high standards.

He said the borough council would continue to clear fly-tipped rubbish and were taking measures to discover who is causing it.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830 985

e: meghan.hindley@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoMeg