APPENDIX 20
Memorandum from the Cymdeithas Eryri—the
Snowdonia Society
The Snowdonia Society, which has about 2,700
members, is the leading charitable organisation working to protect
and enhance the Snowdonia National Park. The Society works to
ensure that the beauty and diversity of the landscape, wildlife
and culture of Snowdonia remains for future generations to enjoy.
The Society is not only heavily involved with campaign and policy
based work but is also active on a practical level, in particular
co-ordinating and supporting volunteers to tackle and remove the
impact of fly-tipping and litter. This year we are planning approximately
20 clear up events each one involving between 10 and 20 volunteers.
The Snowdonia Society appreciates the opportunity
to contribute to this inquiry and would like to make the following
statements:
1. What is the scale of the impact of these
crimes on the local environment?
1.1 Snowdonia National Park, although undoubtedly
suffering less than urban areas, does suffer from environmental
crime. A National Park has two statutory purposes, [13]namely:
(a) to conserve and enhance the natural beauty,
wildlife and cultural heritage of the area.
(b) to promote the opportunities for the
understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of these
areas by the public.
In pursuing those purposes, a National Park
Authority must seek to foster the economic and social well being
of local communities within the National Park, but without incurring
significant expenditure.
1.2 Clearly any environmental crime is likely
to have an environmental, a social and an economic impact—in
particular its effect on wildlife and thus conservation as well
as its negative effect on the visual/amenity value of the National
Park, which will affect tourism and therefore the economy.
1.3 The Snowdonia Society actively clears
areas in the National Park affected by fly-tipping. The fact that
volunteers are prepared to get involved in the work, the regular
and favourable media coverage and the support this work receives
from a wide range of other bodies (statutory, private and voluntary)
is a clear testament to the adverse impact of fly-tipping within
the Park. Within commercial circles waste will often follow the
cheapest disposal route. With the cost of proper disposal set
to increase the Environment Agency Wales anticipates an increase
in fly-tipping[14]
and therefore an increased impact.
1.4 The Snowdonia Society has voiced concerns
to Gwynedd County Council that large scale events and competitions
(such as Multi Activity Adventure Races) within the Park have
lately resulted in increased graffiti (for example competitors'
names painted on roads and rocks). There is also an ongoing problem
of political graffiti—especially in relation to the Welsh/English
divide.
1.5 A number of cars have been abandoned
in the disused quarries that are within and also immediately around
the Park.
1.6 There has recently been a campaign by
local people against noise and other forms of nuisance caused
by power boats used by water skiers on a lake in the National
Park. This activity is not regulated at present; the National
Park Authority is investigating the case for making bye-laws.
The other major noise issue within the Park relates to low flying
aircraft and helicopters. Whilst we recognise the need (and value)
of military training and search and rescue, we do not feel that
private use of aircraft and helicopters at low levels in the Park
is appropriate because of the adverse impact on users' quiet enjoyment
of the Park. We also feel that alternative sites should be chosen
where possible for military training.
2. Has there been a cultural change in attitudes
to these kinds of crimes and are they being treated more or less
seriously than in the past?
2.1 We believe attitudes have not changed
significantly in recent years. Although some would argue that
there is a higher awareness of the impacts and repercussions of
committing such crimes there has not been a significant reduction,
indeed cases of fly-tipping have increased in recent years.
3. Do responsible bodies who deal with the
problem and its consequences have sufficient resources and powers
to do so?
3.1 No—it would appear that the majority
of bodies working to deal with the problem and consequences are
under resourced. For example it should not be necessary for a
voluntary body to be clearing areas affected by fly-tipping. Although
fly-tippers can be (and often are) brought to prosecution by the
Environment Agency, the fines are low—very few are fined
the maximum amount. With increasing fees for commercial tipping
and landfill higher fines must be given to discourage future offences.
3.2 According to legislation any public
body whose decisions may affect a National Park must have regard
to the conservation and enhancement of its natural beauty, wildlife
and cultural heritage. [15]It
is important that public bodies are adequately funded, resourced
and trained in order to understand what this means and be able
to effectively implement this.
4. Is there sufficient dialogue and co-operation
across government and amongst the various bodies responsible for
dealing with the problem at a local level?
4.1 We feel that within Snowdonia communication
and dialogue between the statutory bodies is poor. This is in
part due to the plethora of bodies involved in dealing with such
cases of environmental crime, including: the Environment Agency,
Snowdonia National Park Authority, North Wales Police, Countryside
Council for Wales and the relevant Local Authority (Gwynedd or
Conwy). In addition a number of voluntary sector organisations
are working to reduce the impact such as ourselves, the Campaign
for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW), Keep Wales Tidy and
many others.
4.2 A Fly-Tipping Liaison Forum was established
in 2002 in an attempt to open up dialogue between the different
statutory and voluntary sector bodies working in this area. This
is now dormant, largely due to a lack of commitment from the majority
of the statutory bodies.
4.3 It is apparent that each statutory body
feels the responsibility lies with another. There are evidently
several agencies involved with very grey lines between their differing
roles and responsibilities. A clear and definitive role for each
agency must be established and adhered to, and communication channels
between them and the voluntary sector must be opened.
5. What alternatives exist for dealing with
these types of crimes outside the criminal justice system?
5.1 Prevention is always better than cure.
We would like to see an increase in awareness raising, amongst
the general public as well as statutory bodies, on the solutions
to environmental crime. Householders may have to travel longer
distances in remote rural areas such as National Parks to dispose
legitimately of waste that is outside the scope of normal household
collections, and that might tempt them to fly-tip. But some people
seem to travel substantial distances in order to fly-tip despite
nearer public facilities being available. Many people are unaware
of the options available to them for disposing of waste—including
asking the local authority to remove bulky items. The facilities
available for legitimate disposal must be clearly communicated
to both commercial and domestic parties.
5.2 Community Skips have been effectively
used as a means of legitimate waste disposal for bulky household
items in the Dwyfor area of Gwynedd. This scheme should be extended
to all areas, though must be managed effectively. Without effective
management they can be filled with commercial waste, and once
full attract dumping of waste on the surrounding area.
6. Does environmental crime have a disproportionate
impact on poorer and less advantaged sections of Society?
6.1 Within the National Park the Snowdonia
Society is not aware of environmental crime having a disproportionate
impact on poorer and less advantaged sections of Society. However
research by the Environment Agency reveals that people living
in deprived neighbourhoods are most likely to suffer from the
effects of pollution. [16]
March 2004
13 Environment Act 1995. Back
14
Environment Agency Wales quarterly bulletin, issue 1 2003. Back
15
Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995. Back
16
Your Environment, Environment Agency, Issue 2 Winter 2004. Back
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