A PLUCKY householder in Normantonused a Derby Telegraph front page to challenge a woman who was trying to fly-tip in her street – and she says more people should do the same.
Pauline Harper brandished a copy of Saturday's paper – which featured a call for a change of law to make it easier for thecity council to prosecute fly-tippers – when she challenged the woman.
Miss Harper, 58, said she spotted a woman walking outside her Stanton Street home at 11am with two bags of household waste.
She said: "I could smell the bags from where I was.
"She walked down to the end of the street and put the two bin bags down next to a blue recycling bin.
"I challenged her and she said: 'I'll leave it here.' I said: 'No you don't do that. You pick it up and take that back home and if you do it again I'll report you.'
"I had a copy of the Derby Telegraph, with the pictures of the fly-tipping on the front, and explained what it was about. She said: 'I'm sorry. I won't do it again.'
"Since then, I've seen her come out and sweep at the front of her house. I don't think she'll do it again."
Normanton Empowerment Team, which has been battling for more to be done about fly-tipping, is encouraging people in the area to take more pride in their streets.
Dawn Gee, from the empowerment team, said: "Pauline is also regularly sweeping the front of her house and encourages others to do the same. She has had a very positive influence on Stanton Street.
"We could do with a Pauline on every street."
In the 12 months to March, there were 6,651 incidents of fly-tipping in Derby – 5,173 in the Normanton and Arboretum wards – but no convictions.
Derby City Council has recently announced a series of plans to tackle the scourge of fly-tipping in Normanton.
These include a night-time enforcement team that will, for the first time, use intelligence from the community and the empowerment team to crack down on fly-tippers after dark.
Derby North MP Chris Williamson has successfully requested an inquiry into fly-tipping and litter by a committee in the House of Commons.
It was that which prompted Saturday's front.
It is hoped the committee's work will lead to a change in law giving council enforcement officers more powers and reducing the level of proof needed to convict people for fly-tipping.
