A ROW has erupted after fly-tippers dumped hazardous builders’ waste outside Plaitford Village Hall.

Four large builders’ sacks of waste including potentially dangerous asbestos were left in the car park and hall managers are now trying to get them removed.

They asked Test Valley Borough Council’s environment and health department for help and were told to contact a commercial disposal company because the waste had been dumped on private land.

Village Hall chairman Sarah Pearce said: “I feel that TVBC should remove the rubbish as a gesture of goodwill as we have their recycling bins situated in our car park, and we receive no payment for this. On many occasions we have had to clear broken glass and rubbish from these, which are not our responsibility.”

Fellow hall committee member Andrew Turnbull said he was disgusted by TVBC’s attitude.

“The recycling bags were dumped about ten days ago and contain asbestos materials. Once other people realise rubbish is being dumped here, I am worried more will follow,” he said.

“Test Valley has not been very helpful at all. We are a charity and the hall is run by volunteers and we haven’t got the money to pay for it to be removed.”

The hall committee is desperately trying to find someone to dispose of the materials.

A TVBC spokesperson said: “We regret that the village hall committee is unhappy with the council’s response.

“The council investigates all reports of fly-tipping and will remove fly-tipped waste from public land. However, when waste is fly-tipped on private land, as with this particular case, it is the landowner’s responsibility to arrange for it to be removed. We are unable to remove fly-tipped waste from private land as this would mean taxpayers picking up the cost of the clear up on behalf of an individual landowner.

“We have spoken with the committee and provided details of how to arrange removal of the asbestos.”