There’s plenty to celebrate and a few important reminders in this month’s Limpsfield Parish Council update. We’re focusing on keeping our beautiful parish clean and tidy, with a particular spotlight on the ongoing problem of fly-tipping and how we can all help tackle it. We’re also celebrating our fantastic local litter-picking volunteers and congratulating three Limpsfield businesses on reaching the finals of the Tandridge Business Awards.

Let’s keep Limpsfield tidy!

Fly-tipping continues to be an increasing problem across the parish, particularly where rogue contractors take payment to dispose of waste, only to dump it in our countryside. Not only does this blight our beautiful landscape, it costs landowners and local authorities thousands of pounds to clear up.

If you see fly-tipping, please report it. Tandridge District Council and Surrey County Council can only deal with fly-tipping on public land. Unfortunately, waste dumped on private land – including much of Limpsfield Chart and Common, which is owned by either the National Trust or the Titsey Estate – is the responsibility of the landowner. However, if you email the Parish Council, we’ll do our best to alert the appropriate landowner.

Remember, fly-tipping is a criminal offence. If someone is taking rubbish away from your home, they must be a registered waste carrier. Before handing over your waste:

• Ask to see their Waste Carrier Registration Number.
• Check it on the Environment Agency’s online register (or call 0300 065 3000).
• Make sure you receive a receipt.

Take household waste to your nearest Community Recycling Centre.

October sees the return of Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight, when Keep Britain Tidy works with councils across the country to help identify and prosecute offenders. We’ll share more information on how you can get involved in next month’s update.

While we’re talking rubbish… a gentle reminder to take your litter home with you whenever possible. Our litter bins are intended for small, everyday items rather than bags of household waste or the remains of picnics and parties, so please put your rubbish in your own wheelie bin when you get home. It really does make a difference.

A huge thank you to everyone who has joined the Oxted & Limpsfield Litter Angels for the July and August outings, and to those people (and councillors) who litter pick around the parish on a regular basis. It was wonderful to see the volunteers – including a couple of Parish Councillors – out helping to keep our local area looking its best for the inaugural Pick ‘n’ Pint! And thanks very much to Claire at The Bull Inn for hosting!

Thanks also to the Friends of Limpsfield Common Guardians who keep the Chart and Common tidy, and to Sarah, Juliet, Louisa and Theresa who regularly go out litter picking around Limpsfield without any fanfare.

The next Pick n Pint litter pick takes place on Saturday 12 September, meeting at The Bull Inn at 10.30am for around an hour of litter picking before returning for a well-earned drink. Hi-vis vests, litter pickers and bags are all provided – everyone is welcome.

Finally, congratulations to all the local businesses who have reached the finals of the Tandridge Business Awards. Limpsfield is proudly represented by Kate Tulett Art 4 All, Coffee @ Kiwi House and Lorelei London, while Oxted has an impressive list of finalists too. Whatever the results on awards night, simply making the finals is a fantastic achievement. Good luck to everyone involved!

Don’t forget Coffee Mornings continue on Wednesdays in both the village and Chart, as well as Sunday Afternoon Teas at St Andrew’s from 3pm throughout August.