Leeds City Council is expected to set up its very own team of officers to “focus on serious and organised environmental crime”, according to new documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Sweeping reforms set to take place in the council’s waste disposal service also include increasing opening hours at municipal tips and a new anti-littering campaign.
The plans, set to be discussed by council decision-makers next week, come alongside budget proposals to scrap charges for household bulky waste collections.
The city is set to scrap bulky waste collection charges in, in a move described as “an overdue U-turn” by senior opposition councillors.
The controversial charges, first introduced in February 2018, saw a £20 charge introduced for collection of large household items from people’s homes. This later rose to £30.
The so-called “DIY tax” has long been an issue for opposition parties, who have argued since its introduction that it has contributed to a huge rise in flytipping across the city.
Leeds City Council has said it wants to make the change, which is expected to lead to a loss of income of £300,000 a year, due to the likely additional demand for collections in the future.
A paper, set to be discussed by the council’s Executive Board, also proposes to establish a “Serious Environmental Crime Team”, claiming this would: “Provide a more effective deterrent to those who commit organised environmental crime with an increased success rate and publicity of prosecutions.
“The current capacity and expertise within Cleaner Neighbourhoods Teams is limited and requires a more dedicated approach.”
It added that this would initially be led by one manager and an extra four environmental team posts, transferred from the council’s cleaner neighbourhoods team “to develop specialist capabilities and expertise”.
Other plans include increasing the opening hours for commercial disposal of household waste at Kirkstall and Seacroft household waste recycling centres, to allow people to dispose of waste during the weekends.
It added: “The council provides facilities for commercial/trade waste disposal at these two sites but is currently closed Saturday afternoons and Sundays. By increasing the opening times this will help those carrying/collecting waste to dispose of their waste legally and responsibly all weekend. The increase in income will pay for the increase in opening times.”
Other proposals include introducing a scheme to make it easier for Leeds residents to find a local waste company to allow them to dispose of waste, as well as a new anti-littering campaign for 2022.
It added: “This growing social action movement promotes and encourages residents to take action in their neighbourhoods to do something about litter/waste. It plays an important role in helping bring about behavioural change and increased personal responsibility.”
The paper will be discussed by Leeds City Council’s Executive Board on Wednesday, February 9.
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Flytipping issues in a part of Bournemouth has left residents in tears and threats issued on the doorstep over the ongoing scourge.
People who live in and around Churchill Gardens in Boscombe have been dealing with the worsening flytipping for years, they say.
And despite community leaders pledging to tackle the issue, rubbish still continues to be dumped in the area.
One man, who has been highlighting the scale of the flytipping on social media, said: “It’s been quite a difficult situation with the waste since the communal bins were introduced four or five years ago.
“I have been in touch with Cllr Jane Kelly on numerous occasions over this period highlighting the numerous things that have happened with the waste around the gardens, with not much being done until recently when I started putting loads of photographs up online.
“We’ve had car bonnets in bins, we’ve had car doors, we’ve had engines. There was one bin that was full of brick waste.
“I found several loads of asbestos dumped around the square and on many occasions I’ve found hazardous waste in the bins.
“The thing with asbestos is, this is a children’s play park, this is just so wrong. So wrong. I think I’ve found asbestos dumped around this square, three or four times.
He added: “There wasn’t any flytipping around the square before the communal bins came in.
“It’s quite upsetting to see people coming to your square, where you live and dump their rubbish and there is nothing you can do about it. Our square is a rubbish tip and it’s not pleasant.
“We have a good community and it does affect people around here. They’re sick of it.
“I must’ve reported 40 or 50 different incidents of fly tipping.”
He believes there are several ways that BCP Council could solve the issue including smaller bins, fewer bins and more collections.
Cllr Bobbie Dove, portfolio holder for Community Safety and Regulatory Services said: “The Council’s contractors have been investigating all reported fly-tips across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and patrolling in hotspot areas including Churchill Gardens as part of a 12 month pilot, recording locations to inform future planning.
“Evidence found within the waste may be used in enforcement action by way of fixed penalty notice or prosecution and any evidence submitted by local residents following an incident, such as vehicle registrations, will be fully investigated and strong action taken on those found guilty of fly-tipping.
“Further meetings will be held with residents in the area to identify any additional measures. In the meantime we urge all residents to manage their waste responsibly by depositing in the correct bin, taking it to the local waste and recycling centres or employing a reputable and lawful waste collection company. Waste left on the ground next to bins or in other public areas is not acceptable and we must all work to ensure our streets and waters remain free of rubbish.”
When contacted by the Daily Echo, Ward Cllr Jane Kelly declined to comment. The Daily Echo also contacted Councillor Lewis Allison.
A Herts farmer says the level of fly-tipping he faces is “beyond frustrating,” adding that it can sometimes cost thousands of pounds to remove.
Tom Streeter from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, has faced plenty of recent fly-tipping on his land, costing him both time and money to sort out.
Latest data shows there were 17,963 incidents of fly-tipping recorded across the county in the 2020/21 financial year, up more than 50 per cent from the previous 12 months.
Estimates also suggest the cost of cleaning up the waste and investigating the fly-tips was a staggering £1.57m.
Increases in fly-tipping, meanwhile, were recorded in every one of the county’s 10 districts and boroughs – varying between 5.9 per cent to 184.5 per cent during that time.
Tom says the situation is a constant cause of concern and impacts him in numerous ways.
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“The one that probably hits hardest is the financial one, in that often what’s tipped on the farm we then have dispose of ourselves through our own funding,” he said.
“It could be a skip load, it could be a container or large lorry load, which could cost anything from a few hundred pounds up to thousands of pounds.
“Often what goes hand-in-hand with it is criminal damage because they’ll drive out into the middle of one of our fields, or break through gates, cut through padlocks and so there’s that burden that comes with it too.”
A huge fly-tip on Rye Meads in Hoddesdon, Herts, in April 2020 (Image: East Herts District Council)
The farmer added that the fly-tips that hit him most are the ones where kitchen waste is dumped on the land , such as cookers, fridges and freezers, as well as building waste.
His message to anyone thinking of fly-tipping is simple: don’t do it.
He’s also calling for more stringent measures to help people like him to protect their land.
“Often those that do this nefarious sort of activity, they’re not going to be stopped easily, but if they have no waste to fly-tip then it dries up in a sense,” added.
“So it needs to go one step back to the homeowner and the like who, for just a cheap disposal is paying someone to take away [their rubbish], that they should be held to account more if it can be traced back to them.
“Or they could do their bit by saying, ‘Yes, please take my waste, but can I see your waste licence, or can I have some form of identification that says this is going to a legitimate place and not just to be tipped into someone’s field?'”
One of those who is helping clear such waste is East Herts District Council’s Environment Enforcement Officer Sam Wood, someone who is constantly being called out to track down wrongdoers.
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of items and, if your your waste is fly-tipped by you or by someone else on your behalf, you could face a £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine.
The county-wide SCRAP campaign has been launched to make people of aware of the steps they need to be taking. The SCRAP acronym stands for:
Suspect all waste carriers. Don’t let them take your rubbish until they provide proof of registration. Note their vehicle’s registration plate.
Check that a waste carrier is registered on the Environment Agency’s website.
Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away.
Ask how your rubbish will be disposed of – seek evidence of this.
Paperwork must be obtained: a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carrier’s contact details.
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“In East Herts, we have the largest rural community out of the whole of Hertfordshire,” added Sam, “so we have more farms than probably any other district council.
“Unfortunately, with farms comes lots of country lanes, hidden black spots, hideaways, where waste comes up from London, Essex and other districts into our area and they can quite easily dump it on one or many of the fields.”
Sam added that fly-tipping has also increased in some areas during the Covid-19 pandemic and said some people who’ve been furloughed have turned to fly-tipping for some extra cash.
She reminded people to be wary of who they’re getting in to dispose of their waste and said: “Generally, if you’re paying below £150-200 for having your waste removed ask yourself the question: ‘Is it going somewhere legal?’
“If they turn up in a heavy-weight tipper, the cost of diesel, the cost of labour, travelling away and then paying what it is per tonnage at a legal waste site, the money you pay them isn’t going to cover that cost.”
East Herts District Council’s Environment Enforcement Officer Sam Wood (Image: HertsLive)
In August 2018, David Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hertfordshire, introduced the Fly-Tipping on Private Land Fund using income from seizures under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
It’s used to clear and dispose of waste left on private land, as well as providing advice and help to improve security.
Given the success of the pilot, it was extended for a further year with the PCC committing a further £20,000 in 2021/22 and extending the eligibility criteria to include unregistered land.
To find out how to apply across Hertfordshire’s 10 districts, click here.
Have you been affected by fly-tipping? Sign up here and let us know in the comments below.
A MACCLESFIELD councillor says closing the tip in neighbouring Congleton will have implications for road safety and litter in her ward.
Lesley Smetham, member for Gawsorth, has spoken out after Cheshire East Council’s cabinet approved proposals to close the household waste recycling centre, on Off Barn Road.
It was one of the cabinet’s last acts before a switch to decision by committee and means the site will not be replaced when it shuts in September.
In response Coun Smetham says there will now be more car journeys on the A536 from Congleton to use the facilities in Macclesfield.
And this will increase the risk of travelling on a road that has already seen five fatal accidents and another 22 incidents that have caused serious injury from 2011 to 2020.
She also says there will be a rise in fly-tipping, above the recorded 2,746 incidents in Cheshire East in 2019-20, as well as more litter.
Coun Smetham said: “Issues on the roads resulting from the closure will increase dramatically when the residents of Congleton have to travel to use our tip.
“In spite of engineering improvements made over time, there has still been an inordinate number of road accidents.
“It is shocking to think about what is bound to happen in September when people start travelling from Congleton to Macclesfield. Every single town should have access to somewhere for their rubbish.”
Coun Smetham added she litter picks around the roads of her ward and the busy ones are full of rubbish 24 hours later.
She said: “It’s distressing. Would they still think shutting any tip in Cheshire East is the right thing to do after seeing that.”
A council report stated it would cost in the region of £4 million to replace the Congleton site — which would have to be financed by borrowing at an annual cost of ‘at least £250,000 over 25 years’.
It also said that 96 per cent of Cheshire East households would still be able to reach a site within a 20-minute drive when it closes.
The council’s lease at the current site runs out in September and Coun Laura Crane, portfolio holder for waste, said that the failure is from previous administrations that had not dealt with this.
She said: “I don’t believe that even one member of cabinet would have chosen to be in the position we are with the lease ending ahead of the full review about household waste recycling contracts.
“Officers did make repeated attempts to buy the land or to extend the lease but they were unable to do so.”
It comes after Wolverhampton Council hiked the annual fee up by 65 per cent as it suggested that Dudley should pay a fair and proportionate contribution to the running of the tip.
However, there was a glimmer of hope on the horizon as Dudley Council was in talks with Sandwell Council in a bid to strike a deal for Dudley residents to have access to Shidas Lane Recycling Centre in Oldbury.
Household Waste Recycling Centre in Stourbridge (Image: Google Street View)
In a statement, a Sandwell Council spokesman said: “We’re unable to open up our facilities for use by people from outside the borough.”
The announcement is the latest blow in the tip drama which has angered Dudley residents, who will now have to travel to Stourbridge to use the borough’s designated recycling centre.
Sandwell residents have reacted online to the news that they won’t be sharing their tip. Tim Haskey said: “Sandwell copes with one tip. Why can’t Dudley?”
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Jackie Edwards suggested: “Dudley residents don’t pay Sandwell Council tax. If they want to use the tip Sandwell Council should let them book-in and ‘pay a fee’ online to use it.”
Roger Tommey posted: “It’s for Sandwell Tax payers too right.”
Patricia Stott claims: “The tip is busy enough with just Sandwell using it. We have enough problems with fly-tipping already. No way should Dudley residents use it.”
However, some people have been left exasperated by the decision. Chris Smith commented: “The fly-tipping has already started! Pile of domestic waste behind the garage on Sedgley Road Woodsetton! Two car baby seats and other young family paraphernalia.
General views of people queuing at The Sandwell Council Tip in Oldbury after it reopened during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
“Will cost more to clean the fly-tipping up than the amount asked for by Wolverhampton Council.”
Dave Oseland: “And the councils wonder why people fly-tip. They do it to themselves.”
Angela Gallagher blasted: “There was a perfectly good solution in place with Anchor Lane. Wolves Council were not being unreasonable in increasing their fees to account for the actual usage by Dudley residents, but instead of doing the right thing and stumping up a fair percentage, they thought that they were trying to be clever and sorting it on the cheap.
“Now it’s blown up in their faces and once again it’s the council taxpayers who are left inconvenienced. I can’t wait to use my vote!”
Heidi Marsh-Geyton, acting director of public realm at Dudley Council, said: “Dudley borough residents are no longer able to use Wolverhampton City Council’s tip in Anchor Lane.
“We are continuing to look at a number of options to find a reasonable solution for our residents.”
West Sussex councils recorded 5,731 fly-tipping incidents between April 2019 and March 2020, up by 7.16 per cent on the previous 12 months, government figures have revealed.
But the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents thousands of rural businesses, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures did not include the ‘vast majority’ of fly-tips on private land.
CLA president Mark Bridgeman said: “While these figures are alarming, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“Cases of fly-tipping on privately owned land are significantly more than on public land so these government figures do not reflect the true scale of this type of organised crime, which blights our rural communities.”
‘Urgent reforms’ needed
The data showed only Adur and Worthing councils experienced a decrease in fly-tips in West Sussex in 2019/20.
A total of 407 incidents were reported in Adur, down from 612, while 352 fly-tips in Worthing was slightly less than the 371 recorded in the previous year.
Arun District Council reported the highest number of incidents in West Sussex at 1,455 – up 35.73 per cent.
DEFRA also revealed the extent of action taken by councils against fly-tippers.
West Sussex authorities took action in 789 cases – 13 per cent of reported incidents.
This included 379 fixed penalty notices – all issued by Arun – for littering ‘in conjunction with fly-tipping’.
Warning letters were sent out in 358 cases, while 32 statutory notices – an official warning which could lead to prosecution if the recipient does not comply with the council’s orders – were issued and 18 fixed penalty notices ‘specifically for fly-tipping’ were recorded. Crawley recorded two ‘formal caution actions’.
There were no recorded prosecutions.
A spokesman for Arun District Council said: “We consider fly tipping to consist of a black bin liner, or larger in size, being dumped in one location.
“We have recently been granted powers to issue fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) of £400 for fly-tipping and have only issued a couple so far.
“We would rather not be in the position where any action is needed and urge those responsible to dispose of items correctly in the first place.
“It was hard to decipher the data provided but we believe the table shows more than 300 fines issued and it seems that both littering FPNs of £80 and Fly-tipping FPNs (above) have been combined.”
Mr Bridgeman argued tougher action was needed to stop fly-tipping incidents increasing further.
The CLA has produced a five-point plan calling on councils, the Environment Agency and police forces to commit to stronger action against the increase of fly-tipping on private land – together with reforms.
Mr Bridgeman said: “Part of the problem is that it’s currently too simple to gain a waste carrying licence that enables firms to transport and dispose of waste – and this needs urgent reform with correct checks put in place. A revamped system would act as a deterrent.”
Rubble, asbestos, loos and more
This newspaper has been told of the significant impact on landowners affected by a series of fly-tips.
Carola Godman Irvine, of Ote Hall Farm, near Burgess Hill, said her land had been affected by fly-tipping on numerous occasions. Rural crime briefings showed incidents were happening on a daily basis across Sussex, she said.
“Our gates have been torn off their hinges, chains and padlocks cut with bolt cutters, and vehicles being driven across both grass fields and arable fields to hide rubbish in the furthest corner of the fields into wooded areas and ditches, away from view of the roads,” she said.
“We have had builders’ rubbish including replacement window frames and doors, rubble, asbestos, sinks, loos and other rubbish. We have also had household waste including sofas, beds, freezers, cookers, washing machines, mattresses, cots, chairs, computers, buggies and general house hold rubbish. We have also had fly-tipping left in gateways and thrown over hedges and fences straight off the roads.”
Mrs Godman Irvine suggested restrictions at waste and recycling tips may have contributed to an increase in fly-tipping. She said: “Much of this is possibly due to councils making it almost impossible for any of this to be delivered to their tips.
“Even ordinary members of the public are being turned away if there is something in their boot or pick-up which they consider not household waste.
“I have had a number of occasions when I have gone with an old mower or old rusty bikes and other things and been told to go away as they considered it was clearly a contractor’s mower and I was a bike dealer. The mower was an old one which we used on the garden here for over 20 years.
“Those being turned away may have no alternative but to throw their rubbish over a hedge on their way home.”
Mrs Godman Irvine believes charges for builders’ waste are too high.
“They have to travel too far in many cases, and they are made to queue sometimes for over an hour – that during a working week is unaffordable for them,” she added.
West Sussex County Council operates tips across the county.
In response, a spokesman said: “Fly-tipping is both criminal and antisocial and there is no excuse for it regardless of the policy at household waste recycling sites (HWRSs).
“Large scale fly-tipping is perpetrated by rogue traders and other criminals and is, in any case, often outside the scope and scale of household waste permitted at the sites.
“Fly-tipping has been on the increase nationally in recent years regardless of the changes to HWRSs. Those who perpetrate it risk large fines or imprisonment if convicted.
“Householders can avoid unwittingly contributing to fly-tipping by ensuring that if they pay anyone to take waste away, they are a reputable company or local trader with a waste carrier’s licence.
“Changes are currently being implemented at HWRSs to make the experience of visiting sites quicker and easier for West Sussex residents.
“More information is available here: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/news/changes-to-household-waste-recycling-sites-confirmed”
Full West Sussex figures revealed
Across England as a whole, nearly one million fly-tips were reported by councils in 2019/20 – a rise of two per cent.
The South East saw a spike of 8.06 per cent, according to the figures.
The period covered included just one week of the first national Covid lockdown, so the impact of the pandemic is not yet known.
The full West Sussex figures for 2019/20 – and percentage increases on 2018/19 – were as follows:
West Sussex councils recorded 5,731 fly-tipping incidents between April 2019 and March 2020, up by 7.16 per cent on the previous 12 months, government figures have revealed.
But the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents thousands of rural businesses, said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures did not include the ‘vast majority’ of fly-tips on private land.
CLA president Mark Bridgeman said: “While these figures are alarming, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“Cases of fly-tipping on privately owned land are significantly more than on public land so these government figures do not reflect the true scale of this type of organised crime, which blights our rural communities.”
‘Urgent reforms’ needed
The data showed only Adur and Worthing councils experienced a decrease in fly-tips in West Sussex in 2019/20.
A total of 407 incidents were reported in Adur, down from 612, while 352 fly-tips in Worthing was slightly less than the 371 recorded in the previous year.
Arun District Council reported the highest number of incidents in West Sussex at 1,455 – up 35.73 per cent.
DEFRA also revealed the extent of action taken by councils against fly-tippers.
West Sussex authorities took action in 789 cases – 13 per cent of reported incidents.
This included 379 fixed penalty notices – all issued by Arun – for littering ‘in conjunction with fly-tipping’.
Warning letters were sent out in 358 cases, while 32 statutory notices were issued and 18 fixed penalty notices ‘specifically for fly-tipping’ were recorded. Crawley recorded two ‘formal caution actions’.
There were no recorded prosecutions.
Mr Bridgeman argued tougher action was needed to stop fly-tipping incidents increasing further.
The CLA has produced a five-point plan calling on councils, the Environment Agency and police forces to commit to stronger action against the increase of fly-tipping on private land – together with reforms.
Mr Bridgeman said: “Part of the problem is that it’s currently too simple to gain a waste carrying licence that enables firms to transport and dispose of waste – and this needs urgent reform with correct checks put in place. A revamped system would act as a deterrent.”
Rubble, asbestos, loos and more
This newspaper has been told of the significant impact on landowners affected by a series of fly-tips.
Carola Godman Irvine, of Ote Hall Farm, near Burgess Hill, said her land had been affected by fly-tipping on numerous occasions. Rural crime briefings showed incidents were happening on a daily basis across Sussex, she said.
“Our gates have been torn off their hinges, chains and padlocks cut with bolt cutters, and vehicles being driven across both grass fields and arable fields to hide rubbish in the furthest corner of the fields into wooded areas and ditches, away from view of the roads,” she said.
“We have had builders’ rubbish including replacement window frames and doors, rubble, asbestos, sinks, loos and other rubbish. We have also had household waste including sofas, beds, freezers, cookers, washing machines, mattresses, cots, chairs, computers, buggies and general house hold rubbish. We have also had fly-tipping left in gateways and thrown over hedges and fences straight off the roads.”
Mrs Godman Irvine suggested restrictions at waste and recycling tips may have contributed to an increase in fly-tipping. She said: “Much of this is possibly due to councils making it almost impossible for any of this to be delivered to their tips.
“Even ordinary members of the public are being turned away if there is something in their boot or pick-up which they consider not household waste.
“I have had a number of occasions when I have gone with an old mower or old rusty bikes and other things and been told to go away as they considered it was clearly a contractor’s mower and I was a bike dealer. The mower was an old one which we used on the garden here for over 20 years.
“Those being turned away may have no alternative but to throw their rubbish over a hedge on their way home.”
Mrs Godman Irvine believes charges for builders’ waste are too high.
“They have to travel too far in many cases, and they are made to queue sometimes for over an hour – that during a working week is unaffordable for them,” she added.
West Sussex County Council operates tips across the county.
In response, a spokesman said: “Fly-tipping is both criminal and antisocial and there is no excuse for it regardless of the policy at household waste recycling sites (HWRSs).
“Large scale fly-tipping is perpetrated by rogue traders and other criminals and is, in any case, often outside the scope and scale of household waste permitted at the sites.
“Fly-tipping has been on the increase nationally in recent years regardless of the changes to HWRSs. Those who perpetrate it risk large fines or imprisonment if convicted.
“Householders can avoid unwittingly contributing to fly-tipping by ensuring that if they pay anyone to take waste away, they are a reputable company or local trader with a waste carrier’s licence.
“Changes are currently being implemented at HWRSs to make the experience of visiting sites quicker and easier for West Sussex residents.
“More information is available here: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/news/changes-to-household-waste-recycling-sites-confirmed”
Full West Sussex figures revealed
Across England as a whole, nearly one million fly-tips were reported by councils in 2019/20 – a rise of two per cent.
The South East saw a spike of 8.06 per cent, according to the figures.
The period covered included just one week of the first national Covid lockdown, so the impact of the pandemic is not yet known.
The full West Sussex figures for 2019/20 – and percentage increases on 2018/19 – were as follows:
Incidents in neighbouring Wyre were reported four times a day on average, and reports came in twice a day in Fylde during the same period.
Last weekend saw long queues of cars waiting to responsibly dispose of rubbish at Bristol Avenue tip in Bispham – as fly-tipping numbers fell by 249 in the borough compared with 2018/19.
But one offender was taken to court by Blackpool Council last year, at a cost of £150, and was given an £80 fine.
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Fly tipping in Thornton.
Long queues for Bristol Avenue tip highlighted resort residents’ responsible actions, Councillor Tony Williams, leader of the Conservatives at Blackpool Council, said.
“It’s encouraging to see that the number of fly tipping incidents is reducing but it’s still high,” Coun Williams added.
“I think Blackpool residents are becoming more responsible when it comes to disposing of their unwanted rubbish but rogue traders are still trying to save a few pounds by illegally tipping debris from their work on our streets and green spaces.
“Council officers have been vigilant in bringing these offender to court and some hefty fines have been given out. Also, there are more resident CCTV cameras and video door bells in our neighbourhoods, so any blatant fly tippers are more easily caught in the act.
“I do think Blackpool needs an extra recycling station in the south end of town. It’s along way to travel from places like Squires Gate to Bristol Avenue tip to dispose of small amounts of rubbish, so obviously the temptation is there to get rid of it on the way.
“Maybe the council could introduce ‘amnesty days’ for certain types of traders or review their off-peak charges to encourage more people to tip rather than dump.”
Coun Jim Hobson, cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment at Blackpool Council, added: “We’ve had a really busy weekend down at Bristol Avenue tip. The good weather has obviously inspired a lot of people to have a spring clean and clear out.
“We would always expect it to be busy at this time of year but the Covid safety measures that we’ve put in place have led to longer queues than normal.
“On behalf of the staff down at the site I’d like to thank residents for their patience. Everyone using the tip this weekend has been good-natured and appreciated that they may have to wait a little longer than normal while we have reduced capacity.
“The tip team has done a great job and have been walking down the queue to keep people updated and even stayed open later on Sunday to make sure no-one left with waste still in their car.
“There is never an excuse for fly-tipping. For people without cars we have Rover, our mobile recycling unit, travelling across the town five days a week.
“Fly-tipping in back alleys can be anything from one black bin bag to a whole van of dumped waste. Whatever the size it is illegal and a blight on the community. We need the help of our residents to be vigilant and report it to us via our website.”
Alleyways proved the most problematic areas for the Fylde coast last year, with rubbish found strewn behind houses accounting for over 70 per cent of reports in both Blackpool and Wyre – 78 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy said the crime was being driven by conmen, who offer to remove household rubbish for a fee but dump it illegally.
On some occasions enough waste was dumped to fill tipper lorries – costing local authorities significant amounts to remove.
Some £17,250 was forked out by Blackpool Council after lorries were tasked with clearing fly-tipped items 138 times.
Tippers were needed 19 times in Wyre, costing the council £6,300, but in Fylde just one lorry was required, costing £150.
A spokesman for Wyre Council said: “Fly tipping can easily be avoided if we all follow the SCRAP rules, suspect all waste carriers, check their registration details, refuse unexpected offers to take waste, ask what will happen to your waste and paperwork should be obtained.
“Last year, our Cleaner Greener Project officer, worked with residents who were fed up of fly tipping taking place and wanted to take back their alley – the results were outstanding and the group were shortlisted in the National Keep Britain Tidy Awards.
“We would like to support more residents who are committed to making a difference with their neighbours by transforming other alleyways when Covid regulations allow.
“Wyre Council continues to engage, advise and take enforcement action where necessary to prevent this, but we really need the support of local people to step forward and speak up when they see fly tipping.”
Fylde Council did not respond to a request for comment.
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