Former Rolls Royce factory becomes major fly-tipping dump, leaving families nearby with appalling eyesore

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

Furious neighbours living next to a former Rolls Royce factory have lashed out after litterbugs transformed the site in a vast fly-tipping dump.
The famed British manufacturer left the site in East Kilbride in Scotland in 2015 to move operations closer to Glasgow Airport.
But while part of the old factory site has been redeveloped for housing - a section of it at Law Place has been left abandoned.
And neighbours have now demanded action and say it's become an eyesore - with mountains of fly-tipped tyres and other rubbish left strewn across it.
Huge mounds of rubbish, including fridges, tyres, insulation, sofas and wooden fencing are among the vast loads of unwanted good illegally ditched on the land.
Fuming locals say they have even caught culprits on camera dumping waste at the site - but authorities have failed to act.
Angry local Michael McClorey said: 'I've been here for about four years, and the land has always been derelict with nothing on it.
'It's been more so in the past year and a half that it's gotten worse. Looking at it now, there's rubbish all over the land.
'I'm not expecting beautiful scenery in a city - but instead I'm looking out at old tyres and piles of rubbish. It's really having a very negative effect.
'We look out at it all the time - that's all we can see. It's not nice to be looking out on.
'I'm not trying to sell my house - but this would definitely have an impact on selling prospects. It looks awful.'
Michael said there had been talks of turning the site into a new housing development - which he says he strongly encourages - but says nothing has materialised.
He added: 'People have contacted the council previously - I was in contact with a councillor in 2022 to talk about what's happening with the land.
'Nothing was ever put in place.
'Last year, we were told that an application had been put in to develop the land into a new-build development, but we've not heard anything since then.
'I would like to see the land cleared of rubbish - that's the priority.
'I would like to see new houses there, to bring more people into the area and make it a bit nicer to look out.
'I really hope the council have a look at doing something about it.'
The site was once a major aero-engine repair and maintenance plant until it closed a decade ago, with the council stating the land is privately owned.
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, was able to record footage of a white pickup truck dropping off rubbish at the site.
They said: 'It's an eyesore mostly, however I wouldn't be surprised if it has added to the number of pests and flies that make their way in to our garden.
'In addition, there are fires that have been happening within the waste, likely releasing chemicals into the atmosphere.
'There is a tall pile of tyres - if this was the next thing to catch fire this would cause major issues and is only meters away from our boundary fence.
'The fire brigade have also had to attend the scene several times.
'We have contacted the council, who stated it was private land so they couldn't help.
'We then contacted our local MP who was more responsive in helping but so far haven't achieved much. They are currently investigating who owns the land.
'I understand that several other residents of the estate have done the same thing.'
Kevin Carr, Head of Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: 'Fly tipping is the result of unacceptable behaviour and illegal action by a small number of people who do not dispose of their waste in a fit and proper manner.
'It is a blight on our communities, and the council takes this criminal activity very seriously.
'Although the council is not responsible for fly-tipping on private land, our Environmental Crime team will still investigate any reports made to us and, where possible, inform the landowner.
'However, local authorities don't have statutory powers to require the waste is removed.'