Heartless fly-tippers have shown a complete disregard for our young people in Hitchin scouts by discarding piles of waste at their headquarters.

The Comet: Fly-tipping on Hitchin scouts propertyFly-tipping on Hitchin scouts property (Image: Archant)

The cruddy criminals shocked our public-spirited scouts when volunteer leaders discovered a large quantity of builder’s rubbish dumped in their car park at the district HQ in Grove Road on Sunday.

The thoughtless dumpers left two large piles of rubbish – which the scouts believe came from a large van or trailer.

Leaders say the mean-spirited act will mean the scouts will have to spend a long time cleaning up the mess, diverting them from being able to help the community.

It will also cost the movement money to be removed and disposed of legally.

The Comet: Fly-tipping is escalating in Hertsmere.Fly-tipping is escalating in Hertsmere. (Image: Archant)

But Grove Road is a busy thoroughfare where there is high visibility and the resourceful youngsters and leaders are asking for your help in tracking down the culprits.

Derek Gilfillan, deputy district commissioner for Hitchin Scouts, said: “It is really disappointing that we will have to use potentially hundreds of pounds meant for young people in Hitchin scouting to clear this mess up that was dumped at our district HQ.

“Our HQ is on Grove Road which is a busy road day and night, so if anyone saw anything please get in touch with Hitchin Scouts or North Herts District Council.

“A security camera which unfortunately was not looking over the area where the fly-tipping took place, recorded some unusual noise at 4am on Friday.”

If you have any information which may help with the incident, please contact Hitchin scouts at contact@hitchinscouts.org or call 01462 387879.

If you ever consider conducting such anti-social activity it might be worth considering that the government considers fly-tipping of waste to be a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £50,000 and/or one year in prison. If the case is very serious and goes to crown court an unlimited fine may be imposed with the prison sentence rising to a whopping five years.

*Hitchin district has more than 760 hard-working young people interested in helping our community, spread across beavers, cubs, scouts, explorers and the scout network.

Each section has its own balanced programme of activities, badges and awards. If you would like to join this worthy cause, you can visit www.hitchinscouts.org.