'The worst fly tip I've ever seen' : Clean-up volunteer left disappointed following fly tipping near Dalkeith Country Park

The rubbish is believed to have been dumped at some point on Tuesday, June 1, between 8.30pm and 10pm on the public road going into Dalkeith Country Park from Old Craighall.

It follows a string of fly tipping crimes on that one stretch of road in the past few years.

However, this year, Musselburgh Street Clean volunteers managed to clear the road.

Yet, Stuart Thomson a volunteer for Musselburgh Street Clean who spotted the fly tip on Wednesday morning was disappointed to see the hard work of the community come undone.

He said: “After the turn of the year, myself and others from the community of old Craighall, Musselburgh Street Clean all got together and must have lifted about ten different fly tips just on that one stretch of road.

"They had been dumped down the embankment and had lain there for years, the council was up almost every weekend for about a month and a half to take it away.

"We also tidied up the overgrown trees and paired back the pavement which had become overgrown.

"It was looking really clean and tidy – free from rubbish.

"This last fly tip is the worst I've ever seen.”

A spokeswoman from Dalkeith Country Park said they are aware of the fly tipping incident.

She added: “The items are on the public road and not on Dalkeith Country Park, however we have also reported it to East Lothian Council.”

East Lothian Council investigated the fly tip and removed all the materials on Thursday, June 3.

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “Flytipping is a deliberate act which results in public expenditure by local authorities to clean up.

"There is no excuse for dumping materials in rural areas which in addition to being unsightly may also be hazardous to children or wildlife.

"In addition to council recycling sites there are also a number of commercial waste sites that reputable contractors would use.

"We would urge anyone who may be aware of the source of these materials to contact crimestoppers or East Lothian Council.”

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