Committee issue plea after unwanted goods dumped at Millennium Green

Sidmouth Herald: Fly Tipping at Millenium Green. Ref sho 42-16TI 0233. Picture: Terry IfeFly Tipping at Millenium Green. Ref sho 42-16TI 0233. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Fly-tippers could put Ottery’s long-standing bonfire tradition under threat, according to organisers who have issued a public plea for the culprits to stop.

Members of the carnival committee are taking action after a large volume of unwanted household items – including chairs, furniture and carpets – were dumped at the Millennium Green last week.

They have reported the incident to police and installed signs warning people against fly-tipping at the site, which hosts the giant bonfire on Tar Barrels night, November 5.

Each year, the committee undertakes a huge fundraising mission to meet the ever-spiralling costs of staging the town’s world-famous barrels event - and members say incidents such as this could ruin the long-standing tradition.

Ottery Carnival Committee member Hannah Lane issued a notice that said: “This is a polite notice to all people in the Ottery area, we appreciate all your help with the bonfire throughout the years, but, please, no fly-tipping.

“Someone has left household belongings in the gateway to Millennium Green. This is not tolerated. Please do not ruin our tradition.”

Hannah told the Herald this week: “At this time of year, the responsibility is with us. It’s something that cannot and should not happen at any time. It has happened in previous years and we have tried to nip it in the bud.

“We have asked all the barrellers, committee members and residents to keep an eye out.”

Vice chairman of the committee, Richard Shaw said: “We are trying to get the message out that people should not do this. This is stuff that cannot be put on the bonfire – we cannot burn it.

“None of it helps us because if one person does it, others are more likely to. It does not do our cause any good.

“Anything that goes on the fire has to come through me. People can call or visit the site on a weekend. We cannot take stuff for the fire during the week as we can only access the field at weekends.”

He confirmed the site is secure and added that the police had been very helpful on the matter.

Sergeant Pete Boorn, of Ottery’s neighbourhood policing team, said fly-tipping is a criminal matter and advised people against leaving anything at the site.