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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Patrick Edrich

Taxpayers foot £76k bill to clear huge mound of rubbish

A huge clean-up operation which cost a staggering £76,000 in taxpayers' money was required to clear 380 tonnes of fly-tipped rubbish left near a railway line.

Network Rail had to remove the rubbish left on Wango Lane in Fazakerley.

The rail operator said rubbish including building materials and white goods like fridges and cookers had to be removed from a railway access road.

READ MORE: Elderly man found dead in house named

The fly-tipped rubbish completely blocked a 100-metre length of road preventing rail staff from being able to maintain crucial railway equipment.

Waste removal company Reliance Service Solutions said it was one of the biggest fly-tipped jobs they'd ever seen.

The rubbish was spotted by a Merseyrail train driver who reported it to Network Rail's Delivery Unit in Liverpool.

Reliance and railway staff managed to recycle just over 40% of the rubbish before sending the remainder to landfill.

But as the operation diverted maintenance staff away from other work on Merseyrail lines, Network Rail and British Transport Police have said they will be covertly cracking down on "dangerous" dumping near railways.

Removing the rubbish cost the taxpayer £76,000 (Network Rail)

Jane English, deputy managing director at Merseyrail, said the rubbish was "completely unacceptable" and threatened the safety of passengers and staff.

She added: “We welcome the introduction of surveillance equipment and added security in the Fazakerley area, and hope that this deters other potential fly tippers from dumping their rubbish on our network.”

British Transport Police will be deploying new 24-hour surveillance equipment and added security on Wango Lane to catch trespassers.

Any individuals or vehicle registrations captured trespassing will be immediately passed to police.

Chief inspector Jayne Lewis, from British Transport Police, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on the environment and the railway.

"It is an unsightly nuisance which costs money to clear up. Far from being a victimless crime, items dumped on the railway pose a real safety risk to passengers and staff.

"Additionally, money spent on disposing of the rubbish could otherwise be invested in the rail network.

“We continue to work together with our partners and increase patrols in the area. Action will be taken against those responsible.

"We urge anyone with information about fly-tipping on the railway to contact us on 0800 405040, or through our text number 61016. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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