Fly-tippers cause upset as '˜entire garage' is dumped

The latest incident was pictured in Biddenfield Lane, Shedfield, on Sunday.

A dog walker from Swanmore, who does not want to be named, spotted the mess, took photos and has sent them to Winchester City Council.

She said: ‘It is disgusting and a problem that is getting worse. It is a blight on the countryside, and could cause accidents, not to mention how much it will cost the taxpayer to clear up.

‘I often see items fly-tipped around Swanmore and villages in the Meon Valley, but this really took the biscuit.

‘I had to look twice. It was like someone had emptied the entire contents of their garage there. Something needs to be done about it.’

Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery has met Rob Humby, who is in charge of tackling the issue at Hampshire County Council, to discuss the problem of fly-tipping in the constituency.

The talks came after a series of major incidents where 150 tyres were dumped in a road in East Hampshire and in North Boarhunt where sofas, TVs and a van were illegally left in a lane.

Mr Hollingbery said: ‘The key is to make it harder for these criminals to operate. I welcome the fact the county council now allows small firms to dispose of commercial waste at household waste recycling centres.

‘I know residents are now even more aware of fly-tipping and there is no doubt people are on the lookout for these people and they will not fail to report suspicious activity to the authorities.

‘This is a scourge and it does affect residents in rural areas, especially when lanes are blocked but, on the whole, I am happy action is taking place to limit the number of incidents.’

Last week, The News revealed that fly-tipping had cost councils more than £430,000 in just one year.

Analysis of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’s 2015/16 figures found that across the wider Portsmouth area there were 4,309 incidents of items dumped on highways, railways, footpaths and council land. Nearly 170 vehicle parts and 199 tyres were ditched by fly-tippers, with 13 animal carcasses also dumped on public land.