COMMUNITY protection warnings are being dished out to residents whose gardens are in disrepair which has seen enforcement officers report more than 200 fly-tipping issues in a single area of Barnsley.
Formal warnings for persistent antisocial behaviour such as litter and waste in gardens within the Central Area Council’s remit including Worsbrough, Kingstone, Central, Stairfoot and Dodworth wards have been making their way through letterboxes as a result of a targeted crackdown.
The Central Area Council commissioned a clean-up service for what’s officially Barnsley’s worst area for fly-tipping, but a progress report reveals 216 reports of fly-tipping have been made this year while ten community protection warnings (CPWs) were handed out.
CPWs are legal tools under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act used to tackle persistent behaviour which impacts the quality of lives.
A written warning, a more serious community protection notice (CPN) can be issued if the letter’s requirements aren’t met.
The report said: “We have been in areas supporting the Love Where You Live teams.
“Our work is similar, however we differ by being an omnipresence in the areas, constantly focusing on wards, and utilising Central Area Council resources.
“We are constantly engaging with the public and have been able to
support residents within the central ward and continue to do so.
“During the quarter, the primary focus has been on delivering proactive interventions across ward areas to address environmental concerns.
“Targeted work in identified hotspots has generated significant outcomes and strengthened engagement with local communities.
“Alongside environmental improvements, a comprehensive area analysis was undertaken, involving door-to-door visits, garden inspections and assessments of housing conditions.
“Enforcement activity has also progressed, with case files prepared for non-compliance with CPWs and CPNs.
“By combining proactive engagement with targeted support, the team has not only addressed immediate needs but also laid the groundwork for longer-term improvements in housing quality and neighbourhood standards.
“Regular foot patrols at targeted fly-tipping hotspots have led to investigations, interviews and enforcement actions, which included a range of legal notices.
“These combined efforts demonstrate a proactive approach to improving neighbourhood standards, supporting vulnerable residents and maintaining cleaner, safer communities.”
Fly-tipping statistics for Kingstone and Central wards dwarf other wards in Barnsley and Coun Steve Bullcock has urged more to be done to tidy up their image.
“Our council and the judiciary have also responded favourably by investigating and imposing large fines against identified perpetrators in a serious attempt to win this battle and make our town cleaner and more desirable for residents and visitors alike,” he added.
“This is welcomed we have heard stories of vehicles involved in fly-tipping being crushed.
“But what is being done about Mr X, who decides to walk out of his front door and fly-tips a bag of domestic waste in the nearest backings?
“No point in crushing his car he didn’t use one, he simply walked out of the front door.
“For example, we in Kingstone, do not suffer with fly-tipped waste from a new bathroom or building project, like Wombwell Woods does.
“It is the worst kind of fly-tipping: bags of toxic, rotting food waste, the type that feeds and attracts vermin.
“It is clear our council is doing its bit to stop this decay they are after all very responsive in clearing the mess up after being reported and at times could be accused at times of continually clearing up the same places time after time.
“They are doing what they can in a never-ending battle.
“If you do know who the perpetrators are, you owe it to your neighbours to report suspicions to the council to allow investigations we cannot continue to ignore the systematic trashing of our communities.”
