‘Eyesore’ cleaned up again

ILLEGAL DUMPING: Dumped cars, fridges and washing machines outside East Coast Auto Wreckers in Stanley Road were removed by council contractors on Monday. Neighbours and passersby have complained again about the situation. Wreckers proprietor Richard Newman has put up signs stating items should not be left on the street after hours, but these continue to be ignored. Picture supplied

A regular eyesore of dumped cars and whiteware outside a business in Stanley Road has been cleaned up again.

Neighbours complained after up to four derelict cars and more than a dozen pieces of whiteware, mainly refrigerators, were left outside East Coast Auto Wreckers.

Up to eight wrecked cars have been dumped there previously, neighbours say.

East Coast Auto Wreckers proprietor Richard Newman said he contacted Gisborne District Council about it.

“The council sent in contractors on Monday and everything outside on the road and footpath was taken away. I am relieved and grateful,” he said.

“We couldn’t do anything about what was being dumped out the front because we didn’t have the room inside the yard for any more vehicles.”

Mr Newman was waiting for the return of a car crusher. He hoped it would be there this week or early next week.

“He will take 500 car bodies off us. Once those cars have gone we will be able to continue to take unwanted vehicles.”

Neighbours continue to be concerned by the impact illegal dumping has on the area.

“It’s been going on ever since we moved here 20 years ago,” said one neighbour. “Those are not abandoned cars. They are wrecks . . . most with no motors and often filled with rubbish.

“Quite regularly you cannot walk down the footpath. There’s a school there and the kids have to navigate through that rubbish.

“It’s an eyesore for Gisborne.”

He called on the council to put a camera in place and a sign saying prosecutions will follow.

“They’ve talked about it but nothing like that has been done.”

He welcomed the removal of the latest batch of dumped material but was concerned how long it would be before there was more of it back there.

Another resident said the dumping situation outside the wreckers yard was “unacceptable”.

She also welcomed the council’s move to remove the dumped items.

“However, watch this space as I bet that area will fill up with dumped items again. Apart from it being unsightly, it?s a cost to the ratepayer,” she said.

Mr Newman said he would continue to be vigilant about the problem.

“Once we’ve got a clear yard we will remove any dumped vehicles from outside. I would also point out that we offer a free pick-up service for unwanted vehicles.

“I don’t like what happens out the front of my business any more than anyone else does.”

Gisborne District Council monitoring and compliance team leader Gary Mckenzie said the dumping was illegal.

“It is not the fault of the business owner.He has installed signs on his property stating items should not be left on the street after hours. Unfortunately people are ignoring these signs.”

“Members of the public should continue to notify us about instances of illegal dumping.”