‘There’s no excuse. We will catch you and prosecute you’
A fly-tipped mess in London Road, Clanfield
MOUNTAINS of mess being dumped on our streets and beauty spots are costing councils thousands to clean up, The News can reveal.
People illegally dumped 2,723 times in the last 12 months – or seven times a day on average.
And figures suggest it costs £55 for councils to clean up after each one – which makes a staggering £149,765 in total.
In Gosport, there were 595 reports of fly-tipping in the last 12 months compared to 840 reports the year before.
Fareham saw 404 reported incidents, down from 563, which cost taxpayers around £22,000 to clean up.
Cllr Graham Burgess, the chairman of Gosport Borough Council’s community board, said: ‘Fly-tipping is on the decrease in Gosport because people give us information and it is because of that we are able to respond so quickly.
‘Last week we caught someone dumping waste into the creek and they got a fixed penalty notice.
‘I would encourage people to ring us up if they see anything like it. We will catch them and we will prosecute – there is no excuse.’
The council previously prosecuted a man who used his truck to dump rubbish including a fridge, a computer, a wardrobe, mattresses and building rubble on the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent.
The courts ended up granting the council powers to seize his truck as payment.
Cllr Burgess added: ‘As a deterrent, if we catch anyone dumping rubbish who has a vehicle, we now always ask for their vehicle.’
In Havant, 941 incidents of fly-tipping were reported to the council in the last 12 months.
This is an increase on 863 incidents reported the year before, but a significant drop compared to 1,780 in 2009.
Gary Morton, Havant Borough Council’s ranger team leader, said it is difficult to prosecute offenders because of a lack of evidence.
He said: ‘The main problem is evidence.
‘While people will throw junk mail in with the rubbish, the contents of their garage, or a sofa or broken fridge freezer will not have this kind of information within.
‘Similarly builders’ waste and garden waste rarely comes with anything useful in a prosecution.
‘We also have problems with witnesses refusing to make a statement or reporting the fly-tip anonymously.’
In Portsmouth, the number of reported incidents between November 2010 and October 2011 was 783.
The deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Hugh Mason, said the key to fighting fly-tipping is to make sure it is easy for people to get rid of their waste.
He said: ‘We will take action if somebody is fly-tipping.
‘But the only way we can see to combat this is to make it relatively easy for people to dispose of waste.
‘We have an accessible tip and monthly collection days for garden waste.
‘We have no restriction on the number of black bags that can be put out for collection.
‘Fly-tipping makes our attractive city look ugly.’
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
udontknow
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 03:04 AMYou can use any camera to take photos even if the lighting is dark,for they have many programs online now,from picnik,which is closing soon to ipiccy,that can change the contrast to lighten up the image. So if the shot is in focus you can pick up any image of people or car
G&G Milton
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 02:37 AMI would like the council to come round to Milton common, every day the kids and adults drop their bottles and crisp packets and sweet wrappers on the common or roads near by which end up all over the place spoiling the area, it's also a place frequented by fly tippers, such a shame as I have never once seen any park wardens or community wardens policing the area for such crimes, if it wasn't for people like me and an old gent who everyday goes and picks up the litter then it would be even worse. In Singapore it is illegal to drink or eat on public transport and is strictly enforced and what a difference it makes,the kids and adults there are so well behaved and respectful of the law they are a credit to their country. If only the UK would take these measures and enforce them then we might have a chance, but first it should be instilled by education at school and taught that this is their land and their childrens land to play on and enjoy, can you really do that when your treading on trash and broken bottles and rubbish ?
The Watcher....
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:56 PM@8 - The Environment Agency use very sophisticated electronic measures to identify these offenders already. Smart Water has been used with great effect too!
richardgowen2002@yahoo.co.uk
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:34 PMPeople who flytip and drop litter do not care about our environment and usually little else about our socieity. So when the deputy leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Hugh Mason, said "the key to fighting fly-tipping is to make sure it is easy for people to get rid of their waste" and then go on to describe how easy the council has made it do just that, rather makes my initial point. The only other punishment I would like to see, as well as agreeing in general with all the other ideas, is that without exception, all the persons found guilty would clear up the mess they made, or some other eyshore in the area. Richard - Alversoke Litter Pickers
Le Critique
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 09:12 PMThose camera's that they use for filming animals at night might be useful. You could move them about and cover gate entrances to fields etc. You never know where or when a fly tipper is going to strike but an with intelligent guess you may just catch someone on film doing the deed. If someone is getting away with doing it chances are he's a habitual offender and he's doing quite a lot of it. If you get that person and put him out of action somehow then there could be a big reduction. I used to do a lot of running around the back of the hill because it's a pleasant place to run and I often saw evidence of fly tipping. Not nice!! I'm sure these people doing it need a real hard kick in the backside before they'll stop. I don't know how much a business is charged for dumping its rubbish but if they only get a slap on the wrist and a small fine when caught then it's worth their while to keep doing it. It needs to be a proper deterrent.
Parkie Leggit
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:45 PMYocal, you'd be right if we were dealing with people who had an ounce of integrity andor a degree of intelligence. Their motivation is not from Utopian ecological concepts but from what makes their life easiest at the lowest cost. One step at a time, make the recycling easier and cheaper THEN you can work on their hearts and minds.
udontknow
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:39 PMI'd prosecute them just for drinking Budweiser,they must already be brain dead from drinking that stuff worst beer there is.
Yocal
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 05:58 PMLooking at the photo ------ Cardboard boxes: recycle in roadside collection bins. Plastic fork: never buy because you can do without and you know they can't be recycled. Wood: reuse in DIY projects or recycle. Stool: repair and reuse, maybe pass on via Freecycle or similar scheme. Glass beakers?? reuse (the glass may be toughened so would need specialist recycling). Paint can: personally I think plastic cans should be banned unless there is an obvious way of recycling them. There are some companies that create new paint from old unused paint. Plastic waste bin. Use it in the shed or elsewhere to store stuff, or even continue using it as a waste bin.
portsmouthgeezer
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 05:38 PMi have read your comments and agree but if this is to stop then the POLICE with the COUNCIL should start stoppin all trucks and pure white vans that clearly are used for scraprubbish and start finding out if they have a waiste transfer licence? i also beleive that they should not only fine them but if the fine isnt paid or have made arrangments to pay the bill then there vantruck or what ever they are using should be in pounded and sold making the profits pay off the bill that the scum of earth flytippers and scrapys as they do this aswell,,,,,,
Yocal
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 05:14 PMParkie Leggit@2 said "The 'right' way needs to be the easiest and most convenient option or you will never eradicate this blight on our countryside." -------- Incorrect. Convenience results in less care about generating waste. If you make things easier, then people don't bother about reducing waste. Consumerism and poor education are contributing factors to unnecessary waste.
Parkie Leggit
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:34 PMAgree with #1 but the queues at Bedhampton are an issue too. I tend to use Port Solent but am amazed at the queues at Bedhampton when I pass. The council are taking advantage of the public's good nature and tolerance. It's not surpising the less good natured and intolerant are taking the easier option. You'll catch some but only scratch the surface. The 'right' way needs to be the easiest and most convenient option or you will never eradicate this blight on our countryside.
sea_cider
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 04:07 PMThe penalties need to be increased (not sure what the penalty currently is). I'm sure one or two people getting busted and having to pay £2000 or more would send out a clear enough message. Also dumping of trade waste needs to become a cheaper and more viable option for small businesses. Cant help but thinking that since vans were banned from refuse centres in the area that this problem has got worse.
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