FLYTIPPING continues to cause a lot of distress across a Flintshire town, a councillor has said.

Littering has been an issue across Shotton for several years and Cllr Sean Bibby said everyone deserves to live in a clean environment.

He told the Leader: "Fly tipping and dumping of waste is causing a lot of distress and annoyance to those living close by, especially as the vast majority of residents dispose of their waste and recycle responsibly week in, week out. Everyone deserves to live in a clean and tidy environment."

Cllr Bibby, along with Cllr Dave Evans, Flintshire County Council enforcement officers and streetscene staff, knocked on doors around the town in the areas known for regular littering and flytipping - such as Butler Street and Strickland Street.

Information was provided to residents such as recycling calendars along with trying to resolve the reasons why waste is incorrectly disposed of.

Cllr Bibby said: "This matter is being taken very seriously by Flintshire County Council.

"CCTV will soon be installed in 'hotspots' of activity and also the council now has new powers to issues Fixed Penalty Notices to offenders."

Shotton town councillors have been calling for covert cameras and were told at the start of the year it is in the legal stage of process.

The Leader has previously reported that members support the use of covert cameras which they hope will stamp out the issue.

Cllr Dave Evans added: "The people were quite pleased that we were trying to do something. They were saying it's not nice to see and is a disgrace at times. People need to be educated.

"I have been quite vocal in environment scrutiny committees and there's been much debate on the zero tolerance approach of fine first and then allow people to appeal. I come from a different angle, I say you've got to do a programme of education, you need to give people the opportunity and to talk to them first.

"Keep your community nice and tidy."

Information was also given to residents on the costs of removing bulky items and Cllr Evans told the Leader plans are in place to visit other problematic areas across the town.

He said: "It's become a habit for some people. We need to try and educate them and give warnings first.

"We are going to get teams in the back alleys to do a deep clean and then it's up to the people. At that point we will say we have given information and we have cleaned the area if you are caught breaking the rules we are going to fine you. We can't be fairer than that.

"Officers are going to continue the exercise through more streets and hopefully the deep clean will be done soon."