A ROW has erupted after fly-tippers dumped hazardous builders’ waste outside a village hall.

Four bags of rubbish, including potentially dangerous asbestos, were left in the car park at Plaitford Village Hall near Romsey.

Test Valley Borough Council will not remove the waste as it is on private land, telling the volunteers who run the hall that they will have to arrange and pay for it to be removed.

Village hall chairman Sarah Pearce said: “I feel that the council should remove the rubbish as a measure of goodwill as we have their recycling bins situated in our car park.

"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.”

Daily Echo:

Fellow hall committee member Andrew Turnbull said: “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.

“Test Valley have not been very helpful at all with this.

"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 committee is now trying to find someone to dispose of the unwanted waste materials.

Test Valley Borough Council says that removing dumped rubbish is costly and it’s down to owners of private land to call in experts to get rid of it.

A 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.

“We are unable to remove fly-tipped waste from private land as this would mean taxpayers picking up the cost of the clear-up.

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