Crackdown on fly-tipping (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Initiative launched by Hart District Council

11:10am Friday 21st September 2012 in News

FLY-TIPPERS are the target of a new campaign in Hart, after a rise in reported incidents of illegally dumped waste.

The crackdown, launched by Hart District Council , will in theory involve CCTV being cameras used to catch the tipping vandals. However, warning signs, reminding offenders they will be prosecuted, will definitely be nailed up at hotspots.

It comes after the number of fly-tipping incidents in the district rose from 503 in 2010/11 to 603 in 2011/12.

John Elson, head of technical services and environmental maintenance, told The Gazette that the campaign will use an enforcement officer from Basing-stoke and Deane Borough Council, as part of the councils’ joint working on waste matters. The campaign will cost Hart £10,000.

He said: “We used to do some enforcement but it was not very proactive – it was more reactive. Now we are taking action and going for the people responsible.

“We have certain areas, particularly in parts of Fleet, where we’ve had really bad fly-tipping and that does cause us quite a few problems.”

The district council spent almost £30,000 in clearing up illegally-dumped waste in 2011/12.

So far this year, 55 official warnings have been issued for fly-tipping, while more serious cases are still being investigated. Penalties for fly-tipping can include fines of up to £50,000 and six months in prison.

Councillor Jonathan Glen , Cabinet member for the environment, said: “This affects us all – everyone dislikes seeing other people’s rubbish on our public verges and areas.

“Recession is causing fly-tipping to increase and we all need to be vigilant and report it.”