A RESIDENTS’ organisation which bought its own CCTV camera to tackle fly-tipping has been told it cannot use it.

Last month the Sunny Bower Community Group purchased the device to monitor a lay-by on Whalley Old Road, Blackburn.

The move was welcomed by Blackburn with Darwen Council environment boss Cllr Jim Smith at the time who promised town hall support for their efforts.

But now the police and a council officials have warned the group that they should not use the camera as it might breach data protection laws.

Local Little Harwood and Whitebirk ward’s Cllr Mustafa Desai also promised to get the lay-by sealed off to prevent vehicles stopping to dump rubbish which has yet to happen.

Group chairman Iain Sykes said: “Originally we were told that we didn’t meet the criteria for a camera which we’d asked for because of fly-tipping, littering and other anti-social behaviour.

“However, the situation became so acute we bought one ourselves and told the council.

“I asked it for signage or a lay-by closure. The signage was installed, but somewhat smaller than anticipated.

“We were then advised by the police not to use the camera as the images cannot be encrypted. Then I was told by Cllr Desai the lay-by was being closed to traffic. This didn’t happen.

“We have no camera and we have no lay-by closure, so we feel that the situation is only going to get worse.”

Martin Eden, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s environment director, said: “We sympathise with our residents who are being blighted by incidents of fly-tipping close to where they live.

“Sadly, we have seen cases of fly-tipping rise by more than 60 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

“We appreciate the residents’ efforts to prevent the issues occurring in the first place at the layby.

“We agreed that the residents could erect the camera, we would put up signage up and remove the litter bin.

“Unfortunately, the residents have since contacted us to say the camera cannot be used. We will continue to do everything we can to support them.”