No hiding place for fly-tippers

MORE people have been prosecuted for fly-tipping in Oldham than almost anywhere else in the country, new figures have revealed.

Oldham Council successfully prosecuted all 49 people in 2008-9, up from 45 the previous year. Only six other councils across the country took more people to court.

The figures released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs also show fly-tipping incidents have fallen by almost a third across the borough from 1,525 in 2007-8 to 1,056 as of April, this year. In addition, the council sent out more than 500 warning letters to people and imposed spot fines on another 288 litterbugs.

A further 37 people were also given formal warnings about their behaviour.

Nationally, incidents fell by 9 per cent to 1.16 million, with a 23 per cent fall across the North-West.

Ministers have repeatedly warned councils to get tough on the problem and gave councils the powers to search and seize vehicles used to commit fly-tipping and impose spot-fines. Magistrates have the power to sentence offenders to up to five years in jail, and illegal tippers can be ordered to forfeit their cars, or be banned from driving.

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Fly-tipping is unacceptable and a stain on our environment, which costs local authorities in England tens of millions of pounds each year that could be spent on local services.

“All waste can and should be disposed of responsibly. I am pleased to see a reduction of over 9 per cent in incidents, but 1.16 million is still too many.

It affects our lives wherever we live, and local authorities, Government and people need to play their part in stopping it.”

Defra said it would continue to work with the Environment Agency and local authorities to prevent illegal waste dumping through a combination of education, prevention and enforcement.

Collection

Last month, it was revealed Oldham taxpayers fork out £314,000 a year to clear up after fly-tippers.

Oldham Council combats the problem by fencing off derelict land to dissuade fly-tipping, an increased use of CCTV cameras and enforcement action, and is promoting both Bulky Bob’s free collection service and household rubbish sites.