A WALNEY councillor has vowed that prosecutions will be brought against culprits who are found guilty of dumping household rubbish on the island.

Household waste near Avon Street allotments on Walney was extinguished by fire crews after being set ablaze by arsonists on May 15.

South Walney Labour councillor Frank Cassidy said: “We are living through strange times and the lock-down has made things tough for everyone, but it's not okay for people to just dump their rubbish anywhere.

“I was alerted to the problem on the foreshore at the back of Avon Street allotments by local resident Ian Noble and since then I have visited the area with Barrow council environmental protection and public health team leader Geoff Dowker.

“It's loads worse than we had thought. Some of the waste is pretty old, and there is plastic that appears to have been carried in by the tide, but some of the rubbish is comparatively new.

“It looks to me like tradespeople have been fly-tipping waste on a regular basis because there are shower trays and sinks at different piled locations among mixed building waste.

“We are now drawing up a plan of action and that will include bringing prosecutions against anyone who is found guilty of carrying out this selfish and dishonest activity.

“Our overall aim is improve security and access to the two lanes that lead to the area. Beyond that – and subject to the lock-down being lifted – we plan to organise a defined beach clean of the site with skips provided by the council and I feel sure there will be plenty of South Walneyites who will roll up their sleeves to help out.”

Since the coronavirus lock-down began in England on March 23 incidents of fly-tipping in Barrow and on Walney have increased.

A pile of rubbish dumped outside a property on Egerton Court, Barrow Island, was last week dubbed by the town's fire station manager Roger Exley as the “worst he had ever seen”.

“Anyone who fly tips is acting illegally and I would urge anyone who has information or sees anything suspicious to call police on 101," councillor Cassidy said.

“Cumbria County Council's household waste recycling centre on Walney Road in Barrow re-opened on May 12, so that's the place to get rid of your unwanted stuff.”

Special collections can be booked by ringing the council.

The environmental protection team works with the community through education and enforcement to stop the environmental crime and create stronger communities and partnerships.