Government to crackdown on fly tipping

The news comes after a number of recent reports of waste dumping in Shropshire in recent weeks.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced a consultation on ways to fight fly-tipping and illegal waste sites.

Mr Gove's review will consider what the Environment Agency, local authorities, the environment department, private sector and police can do, and make recommendations on tackling organised waste crime.

Rubbish and old furniture has been dumped in a quiet country lane in recent weeks.

The lane at Yorton Heath, near Shrewsbury, has become the latest spot plagued by fly-tippers and has been littered with a sofa, cushions and general household waste.

Shropshire Council has been informed and officials conducted an investigation to determine where the rubbish has come from with a view to taking action against those who dumped it.

Ironing boards, bags of rubbish, clothes and dozens of shoe boxes have also been left on grass verges and street corners in the Castlefields area of the town in recent weeks.

Also, in March a Telford resident was issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice after dumping wallpaper and carpeting in Sutton Hill.

The council revealed that the fine brought the number of fixed penalty notices issued for fly-tipping to 15 since last summer, when their enforcement officers were given additional powers to investigate environmental crime and issue fines.

A builder who was caught dumping rubbish in Forden, near Welshpool, was hit with a fine.

Powys County Council's waste awareness and enforcement team investigated and intelligence that linked the waste to the offender was found amongst the four black bags.

He was issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice, and accepted it, paying £200 as an early repayment option.

The council has now issued seven fixed penalty notices for fly tipping since new regulations were approved by the Welsh Government in November last year.

Fly-tipping is punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months in prison if the case is heard by magistrates, but can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison in crown court.