Motorist caught on camera dumping washing machine in South Shields back lane

Images sent to the Shields Gazette show the driver briefly parking up in the South Shields alley before unloading the machine and driving back off.

The owner of the footage quickly contacted South Tyneside Council and fears such incidents may escalate across the borough as the coronavirus outbreak continues.

The council, which has followed government guidance in closing its recycling village at Middlefields Industrial Estate, South Shields, since the pandemic’s onset, also says “the tiny minority of irresponsible people flytipping in these extraordinarily difficult times beggars belief”.

The washing machine was dumped in a back lane to the rear of Westoe Road and Derby Terrace at around 7.45pm on Thursday, April 2.

The footage owner, who asked not to be named, said: “I just hope we don’t get more incidents like this as the coronavirus continues because the council and the police have a busy enough job already.

“I sympathise with the decision to close the recycling site because we don’t want people gathered together unnecessarily with all the DIY from the extra jobs they are doing at home.

“But perhaps they should consider keeping it open for the safe delivery of white goods.

“Many people live in flats around here and don’t have the space to store them if they break down.”

A spokesman for the council, which has spent nearly £500,000 in less than decade fighting flytipping, said the recycling village would remain “closed until further notice” and added: “We would ask residents to store their unwanted items until we are able to reopen the site.

“The tiny minority of irresponsible people flytipping in these extraordinarily difficult times beggars belief. Council staff are working tirelessly to deliver frontline services in these unprecedented times but the reckless actions of a few make life even more challenging.

“It is worth reminding people that fly tipping is not only selfish and irresponsible, it is also a criminal offence. We remain committed to prosecuting those responsible.”

Flytipping can carry unlimited fines or five-year jail terms and offences can be reported to the council at [email protected] or by ringing (0191) 4277000.

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