Dedham beauty spot bins left overflowing with litter

A pile of litter, made up loose and bagged aluminium cans and plastic bottles, was left next to an overflowing bin in Dedham. 

The litter was dumped just a few metres away from a sign by Babergh Council which said: “If you dump illegally you could be fined £50,000 or spend 12 months in prison.”

Overflowing - The overflowing bin at Dedham (Image: Submitted)

One visitor said there were bins which were not full only about twenty metres away. 

The beauty spot is at border between Essex and Suffolk, and in recent years Colchester Council has taken steps to tackle the issue with new 120 litres bins being installed at the village’s Mill Lane car park.

While one new bin was installed in Mill Pond car park and another in Dedham High Street to address the problem.

Responsibility - Councillor Darius Laws urged the public to be responsible and take their litter home (Image: Submitted)

Councillor Darius Laws for Rural Ward North said: “I urge all visitors to Dedham and the wider Stour Valley to please take responsibility for keeping our natural landscape and environment special”.

“If a bin is full folks need to take rubbish home. Food based waste in particular can find itself into the river and can be dangerous for cattle and wildlife."

Beware - The litter was dumped metres away from a sign telling illegal dumpers to 'beware' 

Dedham is one of the most popular tourist attractions in north Essex and the route along the River Stour to Flatford is one of the most famous walking spots in the area.

The village is covered by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of Constable Country.

A Babergh Council spokesman said: “We are always sorry to see littering and flytipping in our district caused by a minority, and our team has already been out to clear this waste left behind.

"Large bins are provided are for walkers and users of the local footpath, and these are emptied regularly.

"Anyone who comes across an overflowing bin should report it to us.”