AN ALARMING amount of fly-tipped waste was discovered on highways and footpaths in Basingstoke last year, resulting in thousands of pounds worth in fines.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures revealed there were 2,169 fly-tipping incidents in the borough in the year to March 2022. 

Even though this was down from 2,935 the year before, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) are continuing to do all they can to help this ongoing issue.

Sixty-four per cent of the recorded fly-tipped waste from last year was discovered on highways and 16 per cent on footpaths and bridleways.

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Of the discarded waste, the largest proportion was household waste (28 per cent) followed by household black bin bags (17 per cent).

The data also showed that £16,200 was paid by local councils on removing large incidents of fly-tipping.

There were also four fixed penalty notices issued last year, down from eight in 2020-21. And 11 fines were issued by courts in the year to March – a rise from nine the year prior with the total value of fines equaling £5,976.

Rebecca Emmett, the council's executive director for resident services and regeneration, said: “We take fly-tipping very seriously in Basingstoke and Deane as we know that keeping the borough’s streets clean is important to our residents.

“We have recently installed surveillance cameras at all six of our recycling sites to crack down on incidents at these hot spots. We also take action on those people caught fly-tipping across the borough, issuing fixed penalty notices or securing convictions that lead to fines and even imprisonment through the courts.

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Ms Emmett explained that the proactive response of the council has meant that Basingstoke has recorded the lowest number of fly-tipping reports in the area for five years.

She thanked residents for their support and encouraged them to continue making these reports to help stamp out illegal and anti-social behaviour.