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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Sian Burkitt

Piles of rubbish found near graves as fly-tippers hit Newport cemetery

Piles of rubbish were discovered near graves after fly-tippers struck in a Newport cemetery last week.

Black bin bags and discarded household items, including a number of vacuum cleaners, were found dumped in St Woolos Cemetery according to Newport City Council.

Among the items found dumped were two vacuum cleaners, a television, rubbish sacks, wooden planks and plastic.

"Yet more fly-tipping in our cemeteries this week," said Newport council on Twitter.

"Please respect your local cemetery... dispose of your waste properly."

Responding to the incident, a spokesperson for Newport council told WalesOnline: "The pictures from the social media post of Friday, April 23 showed waste that had been fly-tipped in St Woolos Cemetery.

"Most fly-tipping takes place at weekends, when our vehicle access gates are open. We close the gates during the week for safety reasons. Items that have been fly-tipped range from general household waste to old kitchen and bathroom units.

"Fly-tipping is a criminal offence, and we will seek action against anyone we identify doing this. We also ask that people show respect to those buried within our cemeteries, and their loved ones. People must dispose of their waste correctly: our cemeteries are not landfill sites."

Fly-tipping found in St Woolos Cemetery (Newport City Council)
Fly-tipping found in St Woolos Cemetery (Newport City Council)

Elsewhere in Newport, concerns were raised earlier this month by a community litter-picking group who claim they are clearing the same spot of fly-tipping on a fortnightly basis.

Paul Murphy, who runs group Pride in Pill, highlighted concerns over a patch of land on South Market Street in Pillgwenlly on April 6, as items which include bed frames and pianos have been found dumped there.

Other areas in Newport have also become problematic in terms of fly-tipping waste. In March, BBC Panorama investigated illegal waste disposal in Coedkernew as part of a programme which aired on Monday evening examining the scale of the issue across the UK.

WalesOnline previously reported on the issue of fly-tipping on the Gwent Levels, with residents describing everything from boats and caravans to dead horses being dumped in the area.

Fly-tipping found in St Woolos Cemetery (Newport City Council)

In September, Lliswerry residents also described fly-tipping as a "living nightmare."

"I get calls about fly-tipping on an almost daily basis," said Councillor Allan Morris, speaking at the time.

"During lockdown, fly-tipping has been the number one issue people having been complaining to me as a councillor about. It's been a bloody nightmare, to be honest.

"People having been tipping huge amounts of rubbish in the middle of housing estates and in laneways. It's absolutely disgusting."

You can report incidents of fly-tipping to Newport council through their website.

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