THE AMOUNT of fly-tipping across Malvern Hills district has increased by 41 per cent in the last three months, statistics reveal.
Figures released at an executive committee meeting last Tuesday (June 2) show the offence has risen from 58 incidents to 82 in the last quarter.
Over the last 12 months, 253 fly-tipping incidents have been recorded, compared to 234 in 2013/14.
And Ivor Pumfrey, head of community services at MHDC, said unfortunately as the majority of fly tips were not witnessed and there was no evidence in the dumped materials, the council was often unable to take any action.
“We simply have to clear it away. In a number of instances we have got material and taken action either using fixed penalty notices, cautions or pursuing a prosecution through the courts and we will do that in each instance depending on the strength of the available evidence, but quite often the quality of evidence is not that great.
“It is regrettable being a rural area that those who engage in fly tipping know the places where they can do their deeds unseen.
“We have used CCTV in a number of areas to a reasonable effect but unfortunately it is a continuing problem for us.”
About two tonnes of green waste had to be cleared from Claphill Lane in Rushwick on Monday (June 8) and Coun Julian Roskams, leader of the democratic group, said the overall picture was a ‘big issue’.
“There has to be a reason but I don’t know that reason other than, are we being too prescriptive with the waste our council takes and the charges we are facing with the waste collection,” Coun Roskams said.
“People know where to fly tip and they won’t be spotted so I think we need to deal with the causes of it rather than the consequences and preventing it from happening in the first place.
“I would like to see us do some proper work on this.”
Coun Bronwen Behan, portfolio holder for environmental control at the council, added other areas in the Midlands had worse fly-tipping problems than Malvern, but the issue still needed to be taken seriously.
“Every report we receive we investigate to see if there is evidence which would allow us to identify the offender but sadly this is often not the case.
“We have introduced covert CCTV cameras which we will be using at potential fly-tipping hot-spots to help us prosecute more offenders in the future.”
Anyone who spots fly-tipping can report it online at www.malvernhills.gov.uk/report-it or by calling 01684 862151.
