Fighting Litter On The Beaches ()

The region’s beaches are set to be transformed by a new business which provides vital repair and environmental clean up work in the North East.

Recent findings from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Beechwatch Big Weekend 2009 Report showed that more litter was fly tipped onto North East beeches than any other region. The North East also had the worst percentage for beech litter left by the public.

Infrasafe - based at Blaydon on Tyneside - has emerged as a recession-buster from Railsafe Systems which was launched fifteen years ago to concentrate on services to the rail network. Founder and chief executive Les Savory began work in a British Rail signal box as a 15-year-old school-leaver and has expanded the business from the railway to the region’s streets, roads and beaches.

Fly tipping is a not only a major problem on our beaches. More than 58,000 incidents of fly-tipping were dealt with by local authorities in the North East between April 2008 and March 2009, at a cost of £4m to local taxpayers. From dumped shopping trolleys to truck loads of industrial waste, fly tipping creates major eye sores and environmental problems across the region.

Les said the Company was formed to provide professional support for such problems, with the Company delivering a range of essential services - from pothole repairs to graffiti removal and fly tipping clearance. “There are signs that we are emerging from the recession and now is the time to diversify,” he said.

“Litter and fly tipping clearance are just some examples of the broad range of services Infrasafe can provide in a major expansion programme to assist councils. It certainly makes the area look a lot better.”