Forum Topic

Hounslow Highways - on another planet?

I am very frequently having to report fly tips outside the Furniture Project near me. I suggested to Hounslow Highways that CCTV to try and catch the perpetrators might be useful and then they could prosecute offenders. They have told me 'we do not find CCTV effective'. So I asked why? Whatever happened to tracing car registration details? They reckon it is far better to sift through rubbish to see if they can find clues as to who dumped it. The flaw here is, that a) How many people have they got to do this? b) Any paperwork may not necessarily belong to the person who dumped the rubbish. There are a lot of firms and 'man with van' outfits who offer rubbish clearing services and possibly just fly tip stuff, so what would that prove? Wouldn't mobile CCTV's be more effective and cheaper or is that just me?

Vanessa Smith ● 3465d10 Comments

Not even the laissez-faire theory?

Philippa Bond ● 3460d

"I find that the the cock-up theory usually trumps the conspiracy theory!"Yes - I don't think there are enough operational brain cells around for conspiracies!

Vanessa Smith ● 3461d

I clearly remember being told that the mobile cameras used by the Enforcement Teams were cheaper and lower spec than the CCTV used by the Police who required a much higher standard. Again from memory I think all this CCTV technology is being replaced and upgraded. I find that the the cock-up theory usually trumps the conspiracy theory!

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3461d

So what is going on?  Have you uncovered some other businesstransactions?

Philippa Bond ● 3461d

In another life part of my role on the Executive/Cabinet at LBH was the responsibility for parking and at the not so secret building in Hounslow where the CCTV covered the Boroughs roads I can testify that the images were crystal clear on whatever the cameras zoomed in on

Paul Fisher ● 3465d

Quite - what a good point, shows what a load of old nonsense they feed people.

Vanessa Smith ● 3465d

I have seen less waffle on an American breakfast..if LBH's cctv is that useless that it can't read a numberplate, how does it enforce parking and bus lane misdemeanours so avidly?

Keith Iddon ● 3465d

"Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to use covert T.V"Not familiar with your area, Vanessa, but why not install a highly visible bright yellow CCTV? This will discourage dumping it the first place.

Marina Thomas ● 3465d

Your hesitation is wise Sam. I was tempted to say don't give up the day job, frankly a chat with one of my cats would be more productive. Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to use covert T.V. there's enough places around to put them out of plain sight? I am also advised from someone who used CCTV for Hounslow that HH are telling porkies regarding the quality of the pictures, it is good and clear enough, and that just sounds like classic case of passing the well-known buck. It is just soooooo frustrating for someone to try and tell you that rooting through the rubbish is better, when they probably haven't the staff in any case, and in this case where it happens to be old furniture and mattresses, and today car seats, what bloody good is that anyway? I am just fed-up to the back teeth with reporting dumping at this spot, this is the second time this week. And it is near our park that we plan to be a nature reserve in the future so we can well do without crap being dumped.

Vanessa Smith ● 3465d

I hesitate to say this but ask your local councillor for help or raise it at your area forum during the public forum question time. Hounslow has access to mobile CCTV cameras that they do use at fly tipping hot spots. However they are very quickly spotted by the blokes in striped jumpers - even as they go up. We have also been told that only the police have cameras that provide images clear enough to detect car number plates. It is possible to liaise with the police over this and they can be very helpful after all fly tipping is a crime.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 3465d