Disgraceful this type of stuff happens here in Australia to a retired lady up the street from me who had a corner block with an unkept verge prob 8m out front 6m down the side that she decided with her own money to turn into a beautiful garden she planted prob ten trees countless plants brought in river rocks with the help of her son who was in landscaping put in irrigation and I walked past every day for two weeks loving the progress it looked great and then I walked past one day and it was all gone and her son had his trailer filled with the plants and I asked what had happened and he said the council told her to take it all down and return it to the unkept gravel. I felt so sorry for her. Bureaucracy gone mad, these councils are meant to be serving us, we pay their exorbitant wages and costs. They take more and more day by day.
@@tinker3962people just need to come together. If everyone invoiced the council for having to maintain their own streets and withheld the invoice amount from their council tax payments im sure they'd get on board pretty sharpish.
You're bang to rights to be honest, and this video is rock solid evidence. It's just soil and rubble dumped onto concrete. Which is of no use whatsoever other than causing more mess. I like your videos though.
If you don't own the land then you have to seek permission from the land owner with the support of the community for projects such as this, regardless of rubbish being dumped elsewhere. Besides theres a lot of stone & concrete mixed into that soil which isn't suitable for growing on, or for kids to play on. Checking Google maps i can see that you have covered half of the concreted ground. The courts will likely side with the council for not seeking permission.
They don't grant permission unless you're in bed with some higher up from the council or you have a brown envelope full of cash. If the system worked this video wouldn't exist.
Love your channel Si, but I don’t believe you have a leg to stand on with this issue as you’ve just posted a video to RUclips admitting to fly tipping in the public space behind your house. Unfortunately under the letter of the law this is what you’ve done - it wouldn’t matter if you’d created Kew Gardens mate. After years of central government cuts local councils do not have the money to fulfill statutory obligations such as provision of social care, and unfortunately tidying up after people who would literally sh!t on their own doorstep is way down on the list. Where I live we have several residents groups who organise litter picks and community skips - the bottom line is Britain is broken - and if you want it fixing you have to do it yourself, because those who have been elected to govern simply do not care about anything but themselves and their insatiable need to steal more and more money from you.
Looks like someone's been excavating an old drive in their back garden and didn't want to pay to have the earth removed 😂 shoe us your garden progress 🤣
The spare land ok is the council’s responsibility as it’s there’s but the front of your house is your responsibility have some pride and clean up your front not just leave it. You will find other people on your street will see you doing it and think yes I will do the same. I would be ashamed if outside my front door look like that.
Even if Alan titchmarsh could plant in that builders rubble you never got permission what I'd do is get some buddy's quick and get some skips and get it took away regardless who else has put stuff there because the court has to go by the rules otherwise it's a fine and you will still have to remove it
You must see that the part that you've done, looks like soil and building rubble mixed together, not ideal for growing anything. Maybe if you remove all of the building rubble, you could suggest that it's the start of a garden.
He said he only put a bit of soil there, and the local community joined in to build it up into a new green space. He and his neighbours should petition the council to have this land rezoned as a nature reserve and given grant money to make it beautiful. Bring in several tonnes of quality compost and cover that rubbly soil sub surface layer and it'll be far more ideal for plants to flourish.
if you chucked the soil there, that's fly tipping without doubt I assume. See a solicitor pronto, don't take legal advice from people on here. I suspect the advice will be to plead guilty and pay a fine of around £200 - you won't go to prison and won't face a huge fine, that's for multiple offenders tipping van loads of fridges and toxic waste. Good luck.
Unfortunately even a small amount of soil being placed on council or public land is classed as fly tipping mate. You should have written a letter to the council explains what you wanted to do to help improve the area. Always get permission.
You keep referring to 'duty of care' what do you mean by this? Are you thinking it's a legal phrase? What context is it being applied? I only ask as the council not strimming verges and clearing waste isn't going to be grounds for them to let you off the accusation of fly tipping.
The rules may change in your area, but I am based in Devon after taking on a pub build project in my garden, I was shocked to find that I could not even hire a skip to remove soil without me having an environmental soil test. By moving your own soil into that area of land I would recommend having an independent soil test done in your garden, it may add an extra layer of protection and prove you are not moving contaminated soil as that may be part of their argument. I think demonstrating how you are trying to improve the area is where your case is at its strongest. I feel for ya, the tour is eye-opening and the neglect is disgusting, i would be tempted to ask where the council's money is actually going as it certainly is not into the community. Sending nothing but positive vibes as anyone receiving that kind of threat is going to have a direct hit on anyone's mental health regardless.
Agreed with your take. I posted too, that this is illegal dumping where I live. The argument that the grounds are not kept well is separate from Simon dumping soil on the Council's property.
I totally understand your POV, fairly obvious your intentions were only positive / good. But unfortunately if the land isn't yours and you have dumped / planted / placed / built ANYTHING on it, then you'll have to clear it up, even if you don't think it's rubbish or you think you were only trying to help. I'd advise clearing it up or getting in direct contact with them now to see if you can get permission, although after this not sure they'd give you permission. Just how it is tbh, think its pretty common knowledge you can't just start building / putting things (rubbish or not, dumping or not) on land that isn't yours, no matter how pure the intention is. Maybe fly tipping isn't the correct word, but I'd advise you are most definitely in the wrong. Also rubbish being dumped isn't exactly the councils fault (although they should clean it if its there for a while), most of the blame for that lays with the people dropping the rubbish. I'd also advise that a lot of those out of control bushes etc, could be taken care of by the neighbouring households, if they truly cared to the level you do anyway, we do that sort of thing were I live all the time and it's never been an issue, cut the grass on council land etc, just got to make sure the Parish Council / County Council is informed on the matter, the Council cannot do everything, even if they own all the land. Also think you gave more than enough clues to where you live without telling anyone your exact address, so be careful with that. I guess the summary from my side is, your sort of picking on the council for neglect because they've sprung what they have on you when you were only trying to help, fine, but people in this day and age are lazy, dirty and all sorts of other things, those area's wouldn't look anywhere near as bad if people stopped dropping rubbish and neglecting the areas surrounding where they live. Also On top of that just because land is neglected by the land owner it doesn't mean anyone can do anything to it, that's kind of the whole point, they own the land, not you or anyone else, guess it depends if you are caught / snitched on, which you were, and tbh it's not like you simply cleared up the land for them, you have put things on it that are fairly obvious.
I would just say though, It would depend upon the nature of the neglect to the land. If the land is becoming a hazard then there could be an intervention made.
@@GARYTHDawson Well yeah, I doubt it costs much to do what they've done so far, cleaning up that area would cost millions, keeping in mind most of what I've seen in that video can be put down to residents simply not giving f*ck.
Sorry Simon if you where that bothered about the state of the local area the first thing you would do is make an effort picking up the litter on your door step. What you have actually done is carried out excavations in your back garden and dumped the waste on council land which is conveniently on the other side of the wall. Should have paid for that skip!
Yes, & what's this bullshit about moonlighting mystery gardeners coming in to do their bit? It must be the elusive green fingered Wombles of Barry 😂. He's clearly telling porkies making out like he's doing a good deed for the community when he's just off loading tonnes of soil & rumble from his Bunker excavation rather than pay for skips. His neighbours are rightfully pissed about his fly tipping taking up a community area they did not consent to. He didn't seek council permission because he knew he would not get it. This doesn't reflect well on him but some subscribers have fallen for it. Helps pay for his skip i guess, being the point of this video.
0%. If he picks up litter from his doorstep he opens the door the next day and there is more dumped there. If he transforms the space behind his house that's a place for people to enjoy for a long time. I know where I'd rather spend my effort.
The unfortunate thing is that this looks like it's all your old soil and rubble that has been put there by you. In this underground bunker video you've mentioned 22tonnes of yours being moved and then said roughly the same in this video. If you have done it all, and it does look like it has been done by the one person/group in terms of the same soil/rubble content and the way it has been laid out... Then is it a case of the old broken windows theory, i.e "I'll just put all this out there, it certainly won't be any worse than other areas around here so I don't see the problem". It's dangerous to continue backing yourself and suggesting other people were doing the exact same as you under the cover of darkness, while at no point have you become aware of who is doing it when it would've been a pretty arduous task taking time and effort. It's tough luck, and councils are shit but they're separate matters. Best thing to do is look after yourself and get shot of it all ASAP. Truthfully it doesn't look good at all anyway, and is actually dangerous for anyone walking on the area in question. All the best, do the right thing for you.
Shocking. I wonder if your local councillor or possibly even MP could help turn this negative situation into something positive; that land is crying out to become a community garden.
@@thomasprice5190 Yep great as you stumble your way from tree to tree trying not to break your ankle on all the broken cement that simples Simon has dumped there! Might be also a good idea before you start dreaming of the good life to actually clear the area of all the other crap that has also accumulated there over the years Instead of adding to it. He got caught (others did not) what next some sort of crowd funding to help this clown out!
This is worthy of a panorama input... I felt like bbc should get in contact.. can't believe how Barry has been very badly neglected.. I get there will always be pockets of neglecting due to many circumstances but this is unforgivable by the council.
Unfortunately it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out its all your garden soil/bricks from your underground/bunker bar. Your video shows no rubble/soil there 3 months ago its now covered in it 🙈.
The fact you was trying to build something in your back garden a few months ago just looks like u have dumped it out back of your garden to be fair none of that is good for growing anything there is bricks and other crap all in that soil bet a skip is looking cheap now.
£50,000 fine and/or a custodial sentence is worst case scenario. It does appear that you're guilty of fly tipping. You have disposed of your garden waste on private land. Why did you not hire a skip to get rid of the concrete, rubble and soil? Also, could have sourced a third party company or hired a van to dispose of your garden waste. You will have a hard job convincing anyone that your tippings are the start of a garden project. If I was you, I'd pay for the clean-up and apologise.
Yep - and he was the one that posted the Underground Bunker Bar video. Only takes the council to see that, plus annoyed neighbours filming him from their bedroom windows to amass enough evidence that he was offloading his garden project into the abandoned playground. At which point he pays his £1000 fine, and is forced to clear it up. Still, he’s right about the state of the area he lives in - it’s a neglected dump.
@@jdavies7472 Key point being not just neglected by the local council, that level of neglect and rubbish also comes from the people living in the area.
The abandoned area where you used to play football. Why don't you and the neighbours take it upon yourselves to clean the area up. I have a litter picker and I voluntarily and regularly pick up rubbish in my street and surrounding areas and leave the bag next to a litter bin for the council to remove. As for the soil placement I don't know the law enough to comment. Hope it went well
@@user-qr6if9zx6z if a search I did was right in that Barry Island comes under the Vale of Glamorgan council, there’s actually a mix of councillors from labour, conservatives, Welsh labour, and Plaid Cymru, rather than just one lone party
Council are local governments at the end of the day . they take from those they can take from and give to to others with no job etc , and give as little back to the community as possible .Your council tax should pay to have places like this cleaned up .And if the council can not be bothered looking after the land then it time to hand it out to local residents
Si, I'm a Barry lad like you & that's the sad case for the town. There are loads of neglected areas but they would rather pick on a non issue. Sort their own house out before knocking on your door!
The neglect shown by the council in your area is staggering, they are clearly not looking after any of it. However, that doesn't mean that you can move earth, stones and bits of concrete from your garden to an open council area (regardless of how neglected it is) without the consent of the land owner. From a legal point of view, the neglect of the surroundings is pretty much irrelevant, if I were you I would get the earth, stones and concrete moved ASAP.
I agree. Well said. Nevertheless, it’s unacceptable that the council fails to take care of their own property. Such a systematic neglect of their duty could be hazardous for the nearby residence. You pay council tax to assure that the council maintains their property to keep the neighbourhood save and liveable. Action should be undertaken immediately by the council or they should fined with sanctions in my opinion.
The council, who appear to possess an Olympian level of incompetence, are behaving like tyrants given their arrant hypocrisy. Simon may be legally incorrect but I think his conscience can rest easy because he was right to improve the surrounds rather than watch them inevitably decay. Bunch of nitpicking losers.
@@Liam-yr4uf I was only saying what I said because of the legal position, not because I think the council are right. Legally, he hasn't got a leg to stand on
@@davidstorm4015 In general I agree, however legalities are a bit grey to say the least here. This guy needs independant legal advice, it's certainly not an open-and-shut case as you suggest. I assume you're referring to the Environmental Protection Act 1990? if so exactly what in that act makes you think "he hasn't got a leg to stand on"?
@@areyoutryingtosay yes, that's the one. It defines fly tipping as 'the illegal disposal of household, industrial, commercial or other 'controlled' waste. The waste can be liquid or solid; controlled waste includes garden refuse and larger domestic items such as fridges and mattresses'. Simon has clearly violated this act by dumping soil, stones and bits of concrete.
I deeply sympathise with you. I'd imagine a maximum £400 fine. £50,000 fines for fly-tipping are vanishingly rare. The last I read was only two people in England since 2014 have been issued the max £50,000 fine.
Sadly, too many people expect other to clear up their mess and sort out their problems. I think people had more pride back when you were a kid and looked after their neighbourhood, now people just throw things away and expect someone to sort it out. Well done on raising awareness.
Unfortunately you can't just put a bit of grass over the top of a foot deep pile of soil and excavated debris with a ropey looking "dry stone wall" around it and call it a garden. As good as your intentions may have been its just fancy flytipping in the end and they have your own confession as evidence, best to just bit the bullet and get it all skipped out of there ASAP.
Yes exactly, skips are expensive and he clearly didn’t want to pay for it so thought if he dumped it and makes it look like he’s making good of it he will get away with it 😂 then lies to his RUclips followers pretending it was a selfless act
This unused playground as you called it was occupied by 10 to 12 children who's back lead onto this. They played on it every non school day from early morning to late at night, they learned to ride their bikes and all played well together. It was never unused until the mud, stone from your own garden was place making it unsafe to use.
Ok, Why would this be fly tipping, If what he put their was Soil n Plants, trees... etc.. Nothing was put there to harm anything.. Even though Parties should of asked permission...
I suspect someone saw your underground bunker bar video and then saw the growing pile of soil in the abandoned playground and grassed you up to the council. Also, someone might have filmed you, it’s so easy to do so these days. You’ll likely get a £1000 fine and be forced to clear it up. Better you check with a solicitor - Good luck and totally agree - that council have allowed the streets round your way to rot - it’s disgusting.
Firstly, if you have admitted to putting soil there in front of two EPA officers then that statement can be corroborated by the officers and that can go against you. If anyone has filmed you putting anything in that area, then that can be used also. If they are only accusing you of putting a few buckets of soil there then I wouldn't worry about a £50,000 fine as if they are going to proceed with action, they will probably issue a Fixed Monetary Penalty (£200-£300?). What you need to do is get yourself familiar with Section 75 Environmenatal Protection Act 1990 (Definition of Waste) and also Section 33 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (illegal Disposal of Waste on Land without Licence to Accept it. They are obviously interpreting your action/activity as disposal of waste or discarding waste. Section 75 states waste is any material that is no longer wanted and or discarded. You dont own the land or have a licence to deposit/discard any material on the land. That's the illegal part and what they seem to be focusing on. It's obvious looking ar the area that construction and demolition waste in the form of concrete/slabs/bricks etc have been disgarded/deposited here over time (I'm not saying this was you) and someone has subsequently tried to turn it into a feature that is useful (stone wall). Looking at the amount of waste on the land (because someone has discarded the material there...meaning it fits within the definition of waste), even if they can prove it was you that did it, I doubt you would get a £50,000 fine. If someone was found guilty of putting all the waste on that bit of land, normally what would happen is a deal for the price that it would cost to clean the area up and remediate the land. Maybe a few grand but not 50! Hope this info is useful. My advice to anyone being questioned by anyone is to keep quiet, most people seal they're own fate by giving too much away when questioned. Final bit of advice, consider deleting this video in case you incriminate yourself,
Legally you have fly tipped. No questions there. However, it’s a disgrace that the council has picked up on your version of fly tipping, compared to the absolute mess of the area which is littered with domestic appliances.
Bloody hell, the estate I grew up on is suppose to be a dangerous no go area but it looks like Beverly Hills in comparison to those streets, looks like you're living in some sort of 80's Shane Meadows film.
Simon if the Council are not maintaining the land drum up some neighbour support and ask for the land to be transferred as a community asset allotment and offer £1.00 for the land and collectively take ownership.
Moin Simon mate, from Germany: All the best of luck plus courage for you and your family during this tougher times so to speak I really do hope that all things will sort out in the end. Viel Glück !! )
Dont think this will end well for you simon moving soil from your land to council land is classed as fly tipping i hope you can sort this without to much stress
I dont know Simon it looks like you have dug a load of earth out of your garden and left it on the land/alley behind you probably like everyone else has done.
The crazy thing is the person who has "accused" you will likely know you because of the location. Why have they not even had a conversation first if they had an issue? Crazy times!
Just a hypothetical, but if it was a counselor or a counselor who has informed of it, they cannot just have a conversation, it has to go through a formal system.
Get a petition going with other members from your neighbourhood and tell the council that you pay their wages and they work for you and seeing as they have left this area to rot, you and others have a right to be able to tend it and turn it back into a vegatable garden because you're right, the cost of living is not going to stop rising and if the council won't do their job then you and others show them how you do it. If they won't listen to their own constituency then don't re-elect them and most definitely write to them your concerns and tell them if they arnt going to do the job You pay taxes for them to do, then stand as an independent Councillor for your area and get canvassing to be elected 💪👍
The Council don't want people to be self sufficient, growing your own food on public land so when you rely on them, despite years of them wasting tax payers money, it won't matter as they want to be in charge and have control. Get a petition from nearby neighbours agreeing with you and the poor service council and their lack of duty of care
Wow £50,000! that would buy a nice supply of beers. Might be worth getting a couple of skips and getting rid of all the dirt and concrete. At least it will be sorted 👍
Simon I just watched your video and fully support your opinion. It's a complete disgrace that your local council has neglected such a picturesque village and should be ashamed of themselves. It's the same everywhere . No one cares anymore. Keep your chin up pal and remember 'Don't let the bastards grind you down '
Instead of doing what you decided to do, you should have simply started going litter picking. It would have saved you all of this hassle and would have had more of a positive impact on your surroundings than dumping a load of rubbly soil and planting some trees in an area that obviously isn't supposed to be accessed by the public anymore from the sign on the gate.
Mate... I live looking over Baffins pond in Portsmouth. We have a little group that meets on a Tuesday morning to clean up the place and keep it tidy. I know you will say it is the council that should do it. Do some yourself especially picking up rubbish from your own doorstep. Start up a community help scheme. I come from Cwmbran but moved to Portsmouth.
Worse case you will probably get a fixed penalty fine. Tipping soil/spoil is flytipping but the desire to help look after the area could allow for some discretion. Ask for a meeting, set up a proper scheme if you and neighbors want to turn it into a community space.
It looks like a 3rd world country, but surely it’s the local residents that have caused the mess, they should take more pride in where they live and keep it tidy, it’s not all down to the council!!
Spot on Simon, VoG need their arses kicking and accepting responsibility, not going after one of the few who are trying to improve the neighbourhood. I only live a few hundred meters away and know what it is like, get a petition going and I'll be happy to sign it.
This policy the Council have is absolutely ludicrous. I live in a small village on the outskirts of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Due to budget cuts and general indifference, the council do next to nothing in terms of litterpicking. We formed a small community litterpicking group and once a week we collect litter. The council have a site where you report the collected litter for collection. One day close to a local election one of the councillors appeared to "help" which was clearly a photo op in his campaign. Next thing we know we get a visit as we are litterpicking from a higher up who informed us that we had been picking litter off a bridleway that is private and that if we leave the litter for collection we will be prosecuted for fly tipping! So they spelled out what we could and couldnt do. Basically we can pick litter in the streets for free whilst the guys getting paid to do so have a nap in their van, but we cannot go anywhere that they wouldn't. The same applied when we asked if we could plant flower beds and hang hanging baskets at our own expense! Needless to say many of our group threw the towel in. It's ludicrous.
The man wants help from his neighbours to pitch in. Many hands make light work. It would be unreal if everyone pitched in to help and make a fuckin class communal area and youtube the shit out of it to show what could be done
@@softytop1000 yeah but he’s not done that he’s just spread his rubble n earth around an even area because he knows if it was just a heap he knows it’s more likely to look like he tipped it, i wouldn’t eat any spuds 🥔 carrots 🥕 grown in rocky mud and cat sh*t
Same in Scotland we’re I live mate the council don’t tidy anymore especially the last 15 years more rubbish trolleys and dog dirt , some people have no respect.
I used to come to Fochriw around 2002-3 regularly, and I used to love the drive through the valleys, but I do remember the litter was everywhere, even back then. Such a shame because it's such a beautiful place isn't it, and the people are so welcoming. I live in Hull, and we have a similar problem. I walk with my dad regularly, and could easily set up business selling used supermarket beer bottles foraged from the hedgerows.
Simon you've kickstarted what could be a community allotment scheme. Why not call to your neighbours and find out if they're interested in repruposing that space. You have saved a lot of money providing soil for there already.
I remember in the 90s bailiffs knocked on my door and said have failed to pay other people’s council tax they thought I was the landlord which I wasn’t .
to 45 trees, although we sadly lost 16 protected trees which has left a massive scar on 'the Walks'(North Northamptonshire Council) and the Developer on 10th May, and after no response Last February the residents of Wellingborough heard the shocking news that local developers were about to fell up to 61 protected trees from the historic Wellingborough Walks, an avenue of limes trees that stretches from the town centre to the river, with many trees more than 180 years old.
Be careful giving your address away mate, you showed walking out your door and said 4 local streets. I just had 10 seconds on google earth and know your door number. You might want to edit it dude.
The council have probably been waiting to 15 years for someone to touch that one so they can slap them with a £50k fine. It's the same in North Warwickshire too. I live by some beautiful countryside, and the country lanes look like DFS showroom some mornings!
Although I agree with you 100%, why are the residents in the community just throwing their trash and used appliances and furniture out in the alley’s? They need to have some decency and respect and dispose of all that properly. I think that is where you should start. Again it’s ashame they are attacking you for trying to help.
I remember that land, that you wanted to make good of it. Challenge it, set up a go fund. Bloody councils, they let things go to rack and ruin, then do this when people try and do better.
This is similar to my entry...my council has just given up removing things and now the entry is totally blocked with junk. There's a huge real Christmas tree blocking the gate and about 100 bags of trash. Not quite sure how they are going to empty the wheelie bins...reported it 3 weeks ago. I think there's a few regular dumpers even leaving names and addresses on huge cardboard boxes but I don't give that information to the council that's their job which they don't seem to be bothered stopping them and now they're not bothered about clearing it.
Come on. That "soil" is not suitable for planting anything in. Trees and vegatables in that rock dump, and with all the other garbage around? At first I was sympathetic with you ... until I saw what you where actually talking about. I wouldn't have much hope, if I where you. Sorry.
Dumping earth is still fly tipping. Fly tipping is getting rid of anything on land not belonging to you without permission from the landowner. Next time get permission first before dumping anything.
As far as the law see’s it you are guilty Simon, please remove it. Get help from here mate or your stuffed. It does look horrendous and I would hate that behind me mate. If you were doing it properly it would all be soiled and levelled out ready as an allotment. I’m on your side but you’ve left yourself wide open here mate. Get it moved asap 🍻
That´s what i thought at first. Making it as public as possible might put moral pressure on the council not to approach you. And newspapers, local radio and tv are normally extremely happy for such good content.
Simón, It’s good to see that you are trying to make your area as nice as possible. I was shocked to see the state of the area where you live, it’s unbelievable that it’s left like that. You need to get together with all your neighbours and collectively write to the VOG council and explain to them that is not acceptable leaving the area where you live and the surrounding area that you showed us in your video in your in such terrible mess. Unfortunately the VOG council enforcement department is not going to allow you to leave the council owned land with one stone, one piece of earth from your garden. They have started the legal process with an enforcement notice and now a visit. It won’t stop, it’s just going to cost you a lot of your time and money and stress, it’s not worth it. The only sensible option for you is to contact a local garden maintenance company and pay them to remove everything that you have placed there and to return it in the same condition as it was before you put anything there. I hope that you can get it cleared as quickly as possible so enforcement action can be Stopped.
Very sorry to hear this. You always come across as a decent man. I hope this works out for you. I think you should go to the newspapers about this. Good luck.
In a way i hope you are asked to appear in court on this. After listening to your story the judge will be absolutely fuming that important court time has been taken up with this. Good luck!
Sadly seems all the councils nowadays are desperate to get money from Joe Taxpayer by any means necessary very worrying that the Govt give these Gangsters powers like this , anyway Simon has all the video evidence for the Judge and i hope he counter sues for harassment and the detrimental affect to his mental health this has caused him.
@@dentydent6423 They should’ve dealt with the Japanese Knotweed, anyway sadly Simons area had been destroyed by flytippers real ones . All Simons done is try to improve the area , anyway council at fault how can mattresses and old toys and fencing and other crap be left for years like that ?
@@Cayres9 I know he’s trying to improve things but the judge will be saying trespass,dumping soil etc. Councils only care about themselves and I hate the way this is going. Simon,clear it before court date please mate. Nothing to go to court for then
@@dentydent6423 if we all refused to pay council tax watch how fast they fix things , also notice the roads in the Uk are awful 😞 yet in France they are smooth as silk ? Wonder why ?
Sorry mate, but you've dumped soil and hard-core in a communal area...so they've got ya bang to rights. I'd speak to citizens advice first and either remove the soil etc yourself (Cheaper than the council doing it and charge you)....doubt it will be a £50k fine, but will be a few to several thousand unfortunately. Suspect a neighbour ratted, maybe took photos if you dumped this recently.
I get that the council shouldn’t let areas get like that but also the locals should also take some care of where they live. If that was outside my house I’d pick it up and put it in the bin.
Devastated. Parents of the Cadoxton community playground are totally Devastated that the community playground of the four streets back yard leading to this playground area has been desecrated by tons of soil, stones, leaving their children's who occupied the park area where to play. What's is even worst is, it was one of their own community member, who took advantage of the covid at academic to empty his garden waste of soil and stones to start his own project of building a bunker extension onto his house, not wanting to pay for fees of skips.
@@suemitchell8365 I see what you are now doing. On a rampage aren't you? Did you report him and if so who to? What about all the other rubbish before and during this from others? Were other adults and children littering? Was the council not upkeeping the area?
The worst part of this whole situation is that, it seems to me anyway, a neighbour has put a complaint to the council, otherwise, they would never have noticed. Like you say, it’s not as if they’re coming and inspecting and looking after the area. Good luck with this mate, it’s plain to see you acted on good intentions.
Missing the point, it's obvious they don't have the cash to invest in the area but they will attack anyone who draws enough attention to that and make fecking example of them because for the council cheif it's their job at stake plus their probably skimming off the top and pocketing the cash for themselves think about it properly it's not rocket science most of them are out for theirselves and they do not want someone bringing their cash flow down
Devastated. Parents of the Cadoxton community playground are totally Devastated that the community playground of the four streets back yard leading to this playground area has been desecrated by tons of soil, stones, leaving their children's who occupied the park area no where to play. What's is even worst is, it was one of their own community member, who took advantage of the covid academic to empty his garden waste of soil, stones and concrete to start his own project of building a bunker extension onto his house, not wanting to pay for fees of skips.
@@suemitchell8365 I see what you are now doing. Did you report him and if so who to? What about all the other rubbish before and during this from others? Were other adults and children littering? Was the council not upkeeping the area?
@@shrimpy7430 why don't you Google maps it, you'll see his first start of destroying the playground. He told the neighbours that he was claiming the land behind he back and the children he was doing a grass patch with trees for them. That the mystery bit land that someone put there, he said by someone else with planted fruit trees and shrubs that he is keeping in his famous green boxes for when his finishes his Project and replaces back onto his land. He has mislead the public.
Simon heed Jack W 's words. This video won't stand you in good steed. However, your a reasonable and sensible man, speak to the Council and sort out a mutually amicable remedy.
Jesus wept. Does nobody around your area do anything? I get the council have a duty of care but its also up to the residents to look after their own house and gardens etc
Disgraceful this type of stuff happens here in Australia to a retired lady up the street from me who had a corner block with an unkept verge prob 8m out front 6m down the side that she decided with her own money to turn into a beautiful garden she planted prob ten trees countless plants brought in river rocks with the help of her son who was in landscaping put in irrigation and I walked past every day for two weeks loving the progress it looked great and then I walked past one day and it was all gone and her son had his trailer filled with the plants and I asked what had happened and he said the council told her to take it all down and return it to the unkept gravel. I felt so sorry for her. Bureaucracy gone mad, these councils are meant to be serving us, we pay their exorbitant wages and costs. They take more and more day by day.
Don't tell me, the left won the elections?
What use are Councils
Thug culture. Warlords running the council.
@@tinker3962people just need to come together. If everyone invoiced the council for having to maintain their own streets and withheld the invoice amount from their council tax payments im sure they'd get on board pretty sharpish.
Pinko, concentration- camp, government. Austrailia is still a penal colony.
“I took it upon myself”. Never ends well that.
Unfortunately not no.
Bottom line is dont mess with land thats not yours. Thats never going to end well for you..
depends on circumstance yer should always take it upon yourself to seek different advice, dont just go along with ones opinion
@@williamwallace7651 In this case its not really an opinion thing, pretty shut and closed that he is in the wrong.
@@JackBWakehampropa wrong un for trying improve things. Sit in Ur house n smile as mattresses appear everywhere
So you’ve been fly tipping and suprised to be getting done for fly tipping 🤔
You're bang to rights to be honest, and this video is rock solid evidence. It's just soil and rubble dumped onto concrete. Which is of no use whatsoever other than causing more mess. I like your videos though.
If you don't own the land then you have to seek permission from the land owner with the support of the community for projects such as this, regardless of rubbish being dumped elsewhere. Besides theres a lot of stone & concrete mixed into that soil which isn't suitable for growing on, or for kids to play on. Checking Google maps i can see that you have covered half of the concreted ground. The courts will likely side with the council for not seeking permission.
They don't grant permission unless you're in bed with some higher up from the council or you have a brown envelope full of cash. If the system worked this video wouldn't exist.
Love your channel Si, but I don’t believe you have a leg to stand on with this issue as you’ve just posted a video to RUclips admitting to fly tipping in the public space behind your house. Unfortunately under the letter of the law this is what you’ve done - it wouldn’t matter if you’d created Kew Gardens mate. After years of central government cuts local councils do not have the money to fulfill statutory obligations such as provision of social care, and unfortunately tidying up after people who would literally sh!t on their own doorstep is way down on the list. Where I live we have several residents groups who organise litter picks and community skips - the bottom line is Britain is broken - and if you want it fixing you have to do it yourself, because those who have been elected to govern simply do not care about anything but themselves and their insatiable need to steal more and more money from you.
They have plenty of money, they are using it to stuff into their pockets instead of putting it to the duty for which you pay for.
Looks like someone's been excavating an old drive in their back garden and didn't want to pay to have the earth removed 😂 shoe us your garden progress 🤣
The spare land ok is the council’s responsibility as it’s there’s but the front of your house is your responsibility have some pride and clean up your front not just leave it. You will find other people on your street will see you doing it and think yes I will do the same. I would be ashamed if outside my front door look like that.
Not getting permission before is the problem
100% correct, cannot just do anything you want with someone else's land, even if its neglected.
Correct but whatever this is it's not fly tipping.
@@Frorackous Arguable, he's essentially taken soil and broken up concrete etc from his garden and put it there. By definition it's within bounds.
Even if Alan titchmarsh could plant in that builders rubble you never got permission what I'd do is get some buddy's quick and get some skips and get it took away regardless who else has put stuff there because the court has to go by the rules otherwise it's a fine and you will still have to remove it
@@JackBWakeham Fair enough, you're right.
You must see that the part that you've done, looks like soil and building rubble mixed together, not ideal for growing anything. Maybe if you remove all of the building rubble, you could suggest that it's the start of a garden.
looks a bit like building rubble to me
But he does not want to pay for several skips
He said he only put a bit of soil there, and the local community joined in to build it up into a new green space. He and his neighbours should petition the council to have this land rezoned as a nature reserve and given grant money to make it beautiful. Bring in several tonnes of quality compost and cover that rubbly soil sub surface layer and it'll be far more ideal for plants to flourish.
@@quinny707 He has form
if you chucked the soil there, that's fly tipping without doubt I assume. See a solicitor pronto, don't take legal advice from people on here. I suspect the advice will be to plead guilty and pay a fine of around £200 - you won't go to prison and won't face a huge fine, that's for multiple offenders tipping van loads of fridges and toxic waste. Good luck.
Unfortunately even a small amount of soil being placed on council or public land is classed as fly tipping mate. You should have written a letter to the council explains what you wanted to do to help improve the area. Always get permission.
Buzzkill, sproiking warlord fanboy. Poxy loins. Bow down to your flatulent masters, slave.
You keep referring to 'duty of care' what do you mean by this? Are you thinking it's a legal phrase? What context is it being applied? I only ask as the council not strimming verges and clearing waste isn't going to be grounds for them to let you off the accusation of fly tipping.
It's fear o'clock on Real Jail Sore Rear! 🤣
Oh my 😂
The rules may change in your area, but I am based in Devon after taking on a pub build project in my garden, I was shocked to find that I could not even hire a skip to remove soil without me having an environmental soil test. By moving your own soil into that area of land I would recommend having an independent soil test done in your garden, it may add an extra layer of protection and prove you are not moving contaminated soil as that may be part of their argument. I think demonstrating how you are trying to improve the area is where your case is at its strongest. I feel for ya, the tour is eye-opening and the neglect is disgusting, i would be tempted to ask where the council's money is actually going as it certainly is not into the community. Sending nothing but positive vibes as anyone receiving that kind of threat is going to have a direct hit on anyone's mental health regardless.
Agreed with your take. I posted too, that this is illegal dumping where I live. The argument that the grounds are not kept well is separate from Simon dumping soil on the Council's property.
It's hardly Kew gardens.
I totally understand your POV, fairly obvious your intentions were only positive / good. But unfortunately if the land isn't yours and you have dumped / planted / placed / built ANYTHING on it, then you'll have to clear it up, even if you don't think it's rubbish or you think you were only trying to help. I'd advise clearing it up or getting in direct contact with them now to see if you can get permission, although after this not sure they'd give you permission. Just how it is tbh, think its pretty common knowledge you can't just start building / putting things (rubbish or not, dumping or not) on land that isn't yours, no matter how pure the intention is. Maybe fly tipping isn't the correct word, but I'd advise you are most definitely in the wrong.
Also rubbish being dumped isn't exactly the councils fault (although they should clean it if its there for a while), most of the blame for that lays with the people dropping the rubbish.
I'd also advise that a lot of those out of control bushes etc, could be taken care of by the neighbouring households, if they truly cared to the level you do anyway, we do that sort of thing were I live all the time and it's never been an issue, cut the grass on council land etc, just got to make sure the Parish Council / County Council is informed on the matter, the Council cannot do everything, even if they own all the land.
Also think you gave more than enough clues to where you live without telling anyone your exact address, so be careful with that.
I guess the summary from my side is, your sort of picking on the council for neglect because they've sprung what they have on you when you were only trying to help, fine, but people in this day and age are lazy, dirty and all sorts of other things, those area's wouldn't look anywhere near as bad if people stopped dropping rubbish and neglecting the areas surrounding where they live. Also On top of that just because land is neglected by the land owner it doesn't mean anyone can do anything to it, that's kind of the whole point, they own the land, not you or anyone else, guess it depends if you are caught / snitched on, which you were, and tbh it's not like you simply cleared up the land for them, you have put things on it that are fairly obvious.
I would just say though, It would depend upon the nature of the neglect to the land. If the land is becoming a hazard then there could be an intervention made.
@@davidlewis8899 Oh yeah for sure, but the primary thing being, discuss it with the council.
Very wise words,I think best option is delete vid before escalation from council as the heat is now on and the space may have hidden cctv now.
@@dentydent6423This council is prioritizing spending money on legal action than improvements, sound advice.
@@GARYTHDawson Well yeah, I doubt it costs much to do what they've done so far, cleaning up that area would cost millions, keeping in mind most of what I've seen in that video can be put down to residents simply not giving f*ck.
Sorry Simon if you where that bothered about the state of the local area the first thing you would do is make an effort picking up the litter on your door step.
What you have actually done is carried out excavations in your back garden and dumped the waste on council land which is conveniently on the other side of the wall.
Should have paid for that skip!
100%
Yes, & what's this bullshit about moonlighting mystery gardeners coming in to do their bit? It must be the elusive green fingered Wombles of Barry 😂.
He's clearly telling porkies making out like he's doing a good deed for the community when he's just off loading tonnes of soil & rumble from his Bunker excavation rather than pay for skips. His neighbours are rightfully pissed about his fly tipping taking up a community area they did not consent to. He didn't seek council permission because he knew he would not get it.
This doesn't reflect well on him but some subscribers have fallen for it. Helps pay for his skip i guess, being the point of this video.
100%
0%. If he picks up litter from his doorstep he opens the door the next day and there is more dumped there. If he transforms the space behind his house that's a place for people to enjoy for a long time. I know where I'd rather spend my effort.
The unfortunate thing is that this looks like it's all your old soil and rubble that has been put there by you. In this underground bunker video you've mentioned 22tonnes of yours being moved and then said roughly the same in this video. If you have done it all, and it does look like it has been done by the one person/group in terms of the same soil/rubble content and the way it has been laid out... Then is it a case of the old broken windows theory, i.e "I'll just put all this out there, it certainly won't be any worse than other areas around here so I don't see the problem".
It's dangerous to continue backing yourself and suggesting other people were doing the exact same as you under the cover of darkness, while at no point have you become aware of who is doing it when it would've been a pretty arduous task taking time and effort.
It's tough luck, and councils are shit but they're separate matters. Best thing to do is look after yourself and get shot of it all ASAP. Truthfully it doesn't look good at all anyway, and is actually dangerous for anyone walking on the area in question.
All the best, do the right thing for you.
and possible Liability issues if anyone got injured because what's been put out there.
Short and simple. YOU are at fault.
If its abandoned why do the council still mow it? And also funny how you're digging your own garden at the same time get a skip!
Shocking. I wonder if your local councillor or possibly even MP could help turn this negative situation into something positive; that land is crying out to become a community garden.
ur doing a good job man, i agree with amber get onto your mp!
Yes that space would be great for a come and pick your own veg and fruit garden
@@thomasprice5190
Yep great as you stumble your way from tree to tree trying not to break your ankle on all the broken cement that simples Simon has dumped there!
Might be also a good idea before you start dreaming of the good life to actually clear the area of all the other crap that has also accumulated there over the years Instead of adding to it.
He got caught (others did not) what next some sort of crowd funding to help this clown out!
This is worthy of a panorama input... I felt like bbc should get in contact.. can't believe how Barry has been very badly neglected.. I get there will always be pockets of neglecting due to many circumstances but this is unforgivable by the council.
I'm on a few common law groups and I might pass this video on and ask them where you stand because soil isn't waste if the land was already disused
Unfortunately it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out its all your garden soil/bricks from your underground/bunker bar. Your video shows no rubble/soil there 3 months ago its now covered in it 🙈.
Was you back problems mentioned on camera for benefit purposes 😂
The fact you was trying to build something in your back garden a few months ago just looks like u have dumped it out back of your garden to be fair none of that is good for growing anything there is bricks and other crap all in that soil bet a skip is looking cheap now.
£50,000 fine and/or a custodial sentence is worst case scenario. It does appear that you're guilty of fly tipping. You have disposed of your garden waste on private land. Why did you not hire a skip to get rid of the concrete, rubble and soil? Also, could have sourced a third party company or hired a van to dispose of your garden waste. You will have a hard job convincing anyone that your tippings are the start of a garden project. If I was you, I'd pay for the clean-up and apologise.
Yep - and he was the one that posted the Underground Bunker Bar video. Only takes the council to see that, plus annoyed neighbours filming him from their bedroom windows to amass enough evidence that he was offloading his garden project into the abandoned playground. At which point he pays his £1000 fine, and is forced to clear it up. Still, he’s right about the state of the area he lives in - it’s a neglected dump.
@@jdavies7472 Key point being not just neglected by the local council, that level of neglect and rubbish also comes from the people living in the area.
The abandoned area where you used to play football. Why don't you and the neighbours take it upon yourselves to clean the area up. I have a litter picker and I voluntarily and regularly pick up rubbish in my street and surrounding areas and leave the bag next to a litter bin for the council to remove. As for the soil placement I don't know the law enough to comment. Hope it went well
Fingers crossed you can get it sorted Simon, that council should be ashamed of itself 🍻
@@user-qr6if9zx6z if a search I did was right in that Barry Island comes under the Vale of Glamorgan council, there’s actually a mix of councillors from labour, conservatives, Welsh labour, and Plaid Cymru, rather than just one lone party
Council are local governments at the end of the day . they take from those they can take from and give to to others with no job etc , and give as little back to the community as possible .Your council tax should pay to have places like this cleaned up .And if the council can not be bothered looking after the land then it time to hand it out to local residents
They’ve got you bang to rights and this video just strengthens the councils case. I’d take it down ASAP
I agree,take it down. Don’t do a tour of other waste. 2 wrongs don’t make a right
Eh?
Si, I'm a Barry lad like you & that's the sad case for the town. There are loads of neglected areas but they would rather pick on a non issue. Sort their own house out before knocking on your door!
The neglect shown by the council in your area is staggering, they are clearly not looking after any of it. However, that doesn't mean that you can move earth, stones and bits of concrete from your garden to an open council area (regardless of how neglected it is) without the consent of the land owner. From a legal point of view, the neglect of the surroundings is pretty much irrelevant, if I were you I would get the earth, stones and concrete moved ASAP.
I agree. Well said. Nevertheless, it’s unacceptable that the council fails to take care of their own property. Such a systematic neglect of their duty could be hazardous for the nearby residence. You pay council tax to assure that the council maintains their property to keep the neighbourhood save and liveable. Action should be undertaken immediately by the council or they should fined with sanctions in my opinion.
The council, who appear to possess an Olympian level of incompetence, are behaving like tyrants given their arrant hypocrisy. Simon may be legally incorrect but I think his conscience can rest easy because he was right to improve the surrounds rather than watch them inevitably decay. Bunch of nitpicking losers.
@@Liam-yr4uf I was only saying what I said because of the legal position, not because I think the council are right. Legally, he hasn't got a leg to stand on
@@davidstorm4015 In general I agree, however legalities are a bit grey to say the least here. This guy needs independant legal advice, it's certainly not an open-and-shut case as you suggest. I assume you're referring to the Environmental Protection Act 1990? if so exactly what in that act makes you think "he hasn't got a leg to stand on"?
@@areyoutryingtosay yes, that's the one. It defines fly tipping as 'the illegal disposal of household, industrial, commercial or
other 'controlled' waste. The waste can be liquid or solid; controlled waste
includes garden refuse and larger domestic items such as fridges and
mattresses'. Simon has clearly violated this act by dumping soil, stones and bits of concrete.
I deeply sympathise with you. I'd imagine a maximum £400 fine. £50,000 fines for fly-tipping are vanishingly rare. The last I read was only two people in England since 2014 have been issued the max £50,000 fine.
What would be the point of fining people silly money when they do not have that sort of cash to start with
Sadly, too many people expect other to clear up their mess and sort out their problems. I think people had more pride back when you were a kid and looked after their neighbourhood, now people just throw things away and expect someone to sort it out. Well done on raising awareness.
Unfortunately you can't just put a bit of grass over the top of a foot deep pile of soil and excavated debris with a ropey looking "dry stone wall" around it and call it a garden. As good as your intentions may have been its just fancy flytipping in the end and they have your own confession as evidence, best to just bit the bullet and get it all skipped out of there ASAP.
In a nutshell!
Yes exactly, skips are expensive and he clearly didn’t want to pay for it so thought if he dumped it and makes it look like he’s making good of it he will get away with it 😂 then lies to his RUclips followers pretending it was a selfless act
This unused playground as you called it was occupied by 10 to 12 children who's back lead onto this. They played on it every non school day from early morning to late at night, they learned to ride their bikes and all played well together. It was never unused until the mud, stone from your own garden was place making it unsafe to use.
Ok, Why would this be fly tipping, If what he put their was Soil n Plants, trees... etc.. Nothing was put there to harm anything.. Even though Parties should of asked permission...
@suemitchell8365 how do you know this do you live there also?
Guilty as sin. 😂
😂😂😂 his followers must be thick as pig 💩 if they believe him 😂😂😂
The lies here after physically seeing the mess i can say you sir are just a monster.
Sorry but it looks like you have fly tipped a colossal amount of soil and rubble to me.
Give the One Show a call, you can get the story out on the telly and also give the channel a cheeky plug.
Was this a serious comment because you got me laughing my c*ock off haha 😂
I suspect someone saw your underground bunker bar video and then saw the growing pile of soil in the abandoned playground and grassed you up to the council. Also, someone might have filmed you, it’s so easy to do so these days. You’ll likely get a £1000 fine and be forced to clear it up. Better you check with a solicitor - Good luck and totally agree - that council have allowed the streets round your way to rot - it’s disgusting.
It isn't the councils job to maintain the entire area, its the people who live there wrecking the place, like this plonker
Typical council never look after the local areas but will be quick to smell an opportunity for some £££s in fines.
Firstly, if you have admitted to putting soil there in front of two EPA officers then that statement can be corroborated by the officers and that can go against you. If anyone has filmed you putting anything in that area, then that can be used also. If they are only accusing you of putting a few buckets of soil there then I wouldn't worry about a £50,000 fine as if they are going to proceed with action, they will probably issue a Fixed Monetary Penalty (£200-£300?). What you need to do is get yourself familiar with Section 75 Environmenatal Protection Act 1990 (Definition of Waste) and also Section 33 Environmental Protection Act 1990 (illegal Disposal of Waste on Land without Licence to Accept it. They are obviously interpreting your action/activity as disposal of waste or discarding waste. Section 75 states waste is any material that is no longer wanted and or discarded. You dont own the land or have a licence to deposit/discard any material on the land. That's the illegal part and what they seem to be focusing on. It's obvious looking ar the area that construction and demolition waste in the form of concrete/slabs/bricks etc have been disgarded/deposited here over time (I'm not saying this was you) and someone has subsequently tried to turn it into a feature that is useful (stone wall). Looking at the amount of waste on the land (because someone has discarded the material there...meaning it fits within the definition of waste), even if they can prove it was you that did it, I doubt you would get a £50,000 fine. If someone was found guilty of putting all the waste on that bit of land, normally what would happen is a deal for the price that it would cost to clean the area up and remediate the land. Maybe a few grand but not 50! Hope this info is useful. My advice to anyone being questioned by anyone is to keep quiet, most people seal they're own fate by giving too much away when questioned. Final bit of advice, consider deleting this video in case you incriminate yourself,
Just saw the bunker video, think you should delete that too as when you combine it with this one is pretty obvious where all the debris came from.
Legally you have fly tipped. No questions there. However, it’s a disgrace that the council has picked up on your version of fly tipping, compared to the absolute mess of the area which is littered with domestic appliances.
You'll have it sorted Simon. You're a good man. All the respect for you!
Bloody hell, the estate I grew up on is suppose to be a dangerous no go area but it looks like Beverly Hills in comparison to those streets, looks like you're living in some sort of 80's Shane Meadows film.
Glamorgan Council should be paying you for doing their job! Consider getting a petition going for public support if this goes further
I imagine some of it is the way it is due to lack of funding, so I doubt they'd pay someone for doing something on their land without permission.
Simon if the Council are not maintaining the land drum up some neighbour support and ask for the land to be transferred as a community asset allotment and offer £1.00 for the land and collectively take ownership.
"someone's planted a tree" 🤣🤣 you're a someone
Moin Simon mate, from Germany: All the best of luck plus courage for you and your family during this tougher times so to speak I really do hope that all things will sort out in the end. Viel Glück !! )
mate brick's and rubble don't constitute soil. you should have reported it long before you got the council on the case
Do we have an update on how this went for you Simon?
Dont think this will end well for you simon moving soil from your land to council land is classed as fly tipping i hope you can sort this without to much stress
I'd get a big soil rake and rake the stones and rubble out of the soil.
I dont know Simon it looks like you have dug a load of earth out of your garden and left it on the land/alley behind you probably like everyone else has done.
I will donate to a crowd fund towards a skip to help clear that land.
The crazy thing is the person who has "accused" you will likely know you because of the location. Why have they not even had a conversation first if they had an issue? Crazy times!
Just a hypothetical, but if it was a counselor or a counselor who has informed of it, they cannot just have a conversation, it has to go through a formal system.
Because you probably don't want to have a conversation with the local headcase, who has spent 6 weeks pouring rubble and soil all over the place
Get a petition going with other members from your neighbourhood and tell the council that you pay their wages and they work for you and seeing as they have left this area to rot, you and others have a right to be able to tend it and turn it back into a vegatable garden because you're right, the cost of living is not going to stop rising and if the council won't do their job then you and others show them how you do it. If they won't listen to their own constituency then don't re-elect them and most definitely write to them your concerns and tell them if they arnt going to do the job You pay taxes for them to do, then stand as an independent Councillor for your area and get canvassing to be elected 💪👍
The Council don't want people to be self sufficient, growing your own food on public land so when you rely on them, despite years of them wasting tax payers money, it won't matter as they want to be in charge and have control. Get a petition from nearby neighbours agreeing with you and the poor service council and their lack of duty of care
It took me seconds to find the house on Street View. Round the back I can see the conservatory and a 'No fly-tipping' sign on the fence.
Wow £50,000! that would buy a nice supply of beers. Might be worth getting a couple of skips and getting rid of all the dirt and concrete. At least it will be sorted 👍
Simon I just watched your video and fully support your opinion. It's a complete disgrace that your local council has neglected such a picturesque village and should be ashamed of themselves. It's the same everywhere . No one cares anymore.
Keep your chin up pal and remember
'Don't let the bastards grind you down '
Instead of doing what you decided to do, you should have simply started going litter picking. It would have saved you all of this hassle and would have had more of a positive impact on your surroundings than dumping a load of rubbly soil and planting some trees in an area that obviously isn't supposed to be accessed by the public anymore from the sign on the gate.
Truth be told, it will most likely be thrown out of court.
Mate... I live looking over Baffins pond in Portsmouth. We have a little group that meets on a Tuesday morning to clean up the place and keep it tidy. I know you will say it is the council that should do it. Do some yourself especially picking up rubbish from your own doorstep. Start up a community help scheme. I come from Cwmbran but moved to Portsmouth.
Worse case you will probably get a fixed penalty fine. Tipping soil/spoil is flytipping but the desire to help look after the area could allow for some discretion. Ask for a meeting, set up a proper scheme if you and neighbors want to turn it into a community space.
Report the knotweed, that will become more expensive to remove the longer it stays!
It looks like a 3rd world country, but surely it’s the local residents that have caused the mess, they should take more pride in where they live and keep it tidy, it’s not all down to the council!!
Spot on Simon, VoG need their arses kicking and accepting responsibility, not going after one of the few who are trying to improve the neighbourhood. I only live a few hundred meters away and know what it is like, get a petition going and I'll be happy to sign it.
This policy the Council have is absolutely ludicrous. I live in a small village on the outskirts of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Due to budget cuts and general indifference, the council do next to nothing in terms of litterpicking. We formed a small community litterpicking group and once a week we collect litter. The council have a site where you report the collected litter for collection. One day close to a local election one of the councillors appeared to "help" which was clearly a photo op in his campaign. Next thing we know we get a visit as we are litterpicking from a higher up who informed us that we had been picking litter off a bridleway that is private and that if we leave the litter for collection we will be prosecuted for fly tipping! So they spelled out what we could and couldnt do. Basically we can pick litter in the streets for free whilst the guys getting paid to do so have a nap in their van, but we cannot go anywhere that they wouldn't. The same applied when we asked if we could plant flower beds and hang hanging baskets at our own expense! Needless to say many of our group threw the towel in. It's ludicrous.
Come on be honest it looks an absolute mess!! It looks like all the rubble tipped from your garden, It’s hardly the Chelsea flower show??
The man wants help from his neighbours to pitch in. Many hands make light work. It would be unreal if everyone pitched in to help and make a fuckin class communal area and youtube the shit out of it to show what could be done
@@softytop1000 yeah but he’s not done that he’s just spread his rubble n earth around an even area because he knows if it was just a heap he knows it’s more likely to look like he tipped it, i wouldn’t eat any spuds 🥔 carrots 🥕 grown in rocky mud and cat sh*t
Absolutely shocking! These councils need to get their head a wobble!
Someone got it in for you?..lotta sad people out there!
Same in Scotland we’re I live mate the council don’t tidy anymore especially the last 15 years more rubbish trolleys and dog dirt , some people have no respect.
I used to come to Fochriw around 2002-3 regularly, and I used to love the drive through the valleys, but I do remember the litter was everywhere, even back then. Such a shame because it's such a beautiful place isn't it, and the people are so welcoming. I live in Hull, and we have a similar problem. I walk with my dad regularly, and could easily set up business selling used supermarket beer bottles foraged from the hedgerows.
Simon you've kickstarted what could be a community allotment scheme. Why not call to your neighbours and find out if they're interested in repruposing that space. You have saved a lot of money providing soil for there already.
By the look of things his neighbours will try and plant a fridge
I remember in the 90s bailiffs knocked on my door and said have failed to pay other people’s council tax they thought I was the landlord which I wasn’t .
Cool story…
Be careful revealing your location for your and your family safety, hope everything goes okay let us know if we can help you in anyway ❤❤
Yep, my first thought also. Not a good idea showing people your front door.
yeh wud second this and maybe even remove or edit the video a bit to take off any street details etc
Just when I think the UK government can't get anymore absurdly ridiculous
Have you done an update video Simon?
to 45 trees, although we sadly lost 16 protected trees which has left a massive scar on 'the Walks'(North Northamptonshire Council) and the Developer on 10th May, and after no response
Last February the residents of Wellingborough heard the shocking news that local developers were about to fell up to 61 protected trees from the historic Wellingborough Walks, an avenue of limes trees that stretches from the town centre to the river, with many trees more than 180 years old.
Real Ale Craft Beer hi
Be careful giving your address away mate, you showed walking out your door and said 4 local streets. I just had 10 seconds on google earth and know your door number. You might want to edit it dude.
Just don't drop the soap Si!
The council have probably been waiting to 15 years for someone to touch that one so they can slap them with a £50k fine. It's the same in North Warwickshire too. I live by some beautiful countryside, and the country lanes look like DFS showroom some mornings!
Although I agree with you 100%, why are the residents in the community just throwing their trash and used appliances and furniture out in the alley’s? They need to have some decency and respect and dispose of all that properly. I think that is where you should start. Again it’s ashame they are attacking you for trying to help.
I remember that land, that you wanted to make good of it. Challenge it, set up a go fund. Bloody councils, they let things go to rack and ruin, then do this when people try and do better.
😂🤣🤦♂️
This is similar to my entry...my council has just given up removing things and now the entry is totally blocked with junk. There's a huge real Christmas tree blocking the gate and about 100 bags of trash. Not quite sure how they are going to empty the wheelie bins...reported it 3 weeks ago. I think there's a few regular dumpers even leaving names and addresses on huge cardboard boxes but I don't give that information to the council that's their job which they don't seem to be bothered stopping them and now they're not bothered about clearing it.
Come on. That "soil" is not suitable for planting anything in. Trees and vegatables in that rock dump, and with all the other garbage around? At first I was sympathetic with you ... until I saw what you where actually talking about. I wouldn't have much hope, if I where you. Sorry.
Dumping earth is still fly tipping. Fly tipping is getting rid of anything on land not belonging to you without permission from the landowner. Next time get permission first before dumping anything.
You've made the nationals mate! Good on you for outing the council. Shocking images
As far as the law see’s it you are guilty Simon, please remove it. Get help from here mate or your stuffed. It does look horrendous and I would hate that behind me mate. If you were doing it properly it would all be soiled and levelled out ready as an allotment. I’m on your side but you’ve left yourself wide open here mate. Get it moved asap 🍻
Take the story to the newspapers
That´s what i thought at first. Making it as public as possible might put moral pressure on the council not to approach you. And newspapers, local radio and tv are normally extremely happy for such good content.
@@proBIERtv did you see what he created?? Get him in to landscape your garden,
Simón,
It’s good to see that you are trying to make your area as nice as possible.
I was shocked to see the state of the area where you live, it’s unbelievable that it’s left like that.
You need to get together with all your neighbours and collectively write to the VOG council and explain to them that is not acceptable leaving the area where you live and the surrounding area that you showed us in your video in your in such terrible mess.
Unfortunately the VOG council enforcement department is not going to allow you to leave the council owned land with one stone, one piece of earth from your garden.
They have started the legal process with an enforcement notice and now a visit.
It won’t stop, it’s just going to cost you a lot of your time and money and stress, it’s not worth it.
The only sensible option for you is to contact a local garden maintenance company and pay them to remove everything that you have placed there and to return it in the same condition as it was before you put anything there.
I hope that you can get it cleared as quickly as possible so enforcement action can be Stopped.
Great advice 👍
The council should hang their heads in shame,the area is a bloody disgrace.
Very sorry to hear this. You always come across as a decent man. I hope this works out for you. I think you should go to the newspapers about this. Good luck.
What go to the news paper and tell them he dumped all of this rubble from his house and that some nosey neighbor grassed him up 🤔
You can’t do that mate even if you think your doing something good, looks like your off to jail
In a way i hope you are asked to appear in court on this. After listening to your story the judge will be absolutely fuming that important court time has been taken up with this. Good luck!
Sadly seems all the councils nowadays are desperate to get money from Joe Taxpayer by any means necessary very worrying that the Govt give these Gangsters powers like this , anyway Simon has all the video evidence for the Judge and i hope he counter sues for harassment and the detrimental affect to his mental health this has caused him.
But what’s going to grow through rocks the council will ask,and who was doing the planting?
@@dentydent6423 They should’ve dealt with the Japanese Knotweed, anyway sadly Simons area had been destroyed by flytippers real ones . All Simons done is try to improve the area , anyway council at fault how can mattresses and old toys and fencing and other crap be left for years like that ?
@@Cayres9 I know he’s trying to improve things but the judge will be saying trespass,dumping soil etc. Councils only care about themselves and I hate the way this is going. Simon,clear it before court date please mate. Nothing to go to court for then
@@dentydent6423 if we all refused to pay council tax watch how fast they fix things , also notice the roads in the Uk are awful 😞 yet in France they are smooth as silk ? Wonder why ?
Where did all of the smashed up concrete come from that has been used for the dividing walls?
Disgusting council care,, or LACK OF CARE,, i can imagine the whole area being swarmed with RATS at night 😡😡😡
Sorry mate, but you've dumped soil and hard-core in a communal area...so they've got ya bang to rights. I'd speak to citizens advice first and either remove the soil etc yourself (Cheaper than the council doing it and charge you)....doubt it will be a £50k fine, but will be a few to several thousand unfortunately. Suspect a neighbour ratted, maybe took photos if you dumped this recently.
These crook neighbours always
Don't drop the soap in the prison showers Si.
Council GREED. Its the same all over the UK. The front of these councils is a complete joke. Fight them all the way to the courts.
I get that the council shouldn’t let areas get like that but also the locals should also take some care of where they live.
If that was outside my house I’d pick it up and put it in the bin.
Devastated. Parents of the Cadoxton community playground are totally Devastated that the community playground of the four streets back yard leading to this playground area has been desecrated by tons of soil, stones, leaving their children's who occupied the park area where to play. What's is even worst is, it was one of their own community member, who took advantage of the covid at academic to empty his garden waste of soil and stones to start his own project of building a bunker extension onto his house, not wanting to pay for fees of skips.
@@suemitchell8365 I see what you are now doing. On a rampage aren't you? Did you report him and if so who to? What about all the other rubbish before and during this from others? Were other adults and children littering? Was the council not upkeeping the area?
The worst part of this whole situation is that, it seems to me anyway, a neighbour has put a complaint to the council, otherwise, they would never have noticed. Like you say, it’s not as if they’re coming and inspecting and looking after the area. Good luck with this mate, it’s plain to see you acted on good intentions.
Missing the point, it's obvious they don't have the cash to invest in the area but they will attack anyone who draws enough attention to that and make fecking example of them because for the council cheif it's their job at stake plus their probably skimming off the top and pocketing the cash for themselves think about it properly it's not rocket science most of them are out for theirselves and they do not want someone bringing their cash flow down
Devastated. Parents of the Cadoxton community playground are totally Devastated that the community playground of the four streets back yard leading to this playground area has been desecrated by tons of soil, stones, leaving their children's who occupied the park area no where to play. What's is even worst is, it was one of their own community member, who took advantage of the covid academic to empty his garden waste of soil, stones and concrete to start his own project of building a bunker extension onto his house, not wanting to pay for fees of skips.
@@suemitchell8365 I see what you are now doing. Did you report him and if so who to? What about all the other rubbish before and during this from others? Were other adults and children littering? Was the council not upkeeping the area?
Seems so🧐
@@shrimpy7430 why don't you Google maps it, you'll see his first start of destroying the playground. He told the neighbours that he was claiming the land behind he back and the children he was doing a grass patch with trees for them. That the mystery bit land that someone put there, he said by someone else with planted fruit trees and shrubs that he is keeping in his famous green boxes for when his finishes his Project and replaces back onto his land. He has mislead the public.
Simon heed Jack W 's words. This video won't stand you in good steed. However, your a reasonable and sensible man, speak to the Council and sort out a mutually amicable remedy.
Jesus wept. Does nobody around your area do anything? I get the council have a duty of care but its also up to the residents to look after their own house and gardens etc