FLY-TIPPERS cost Pembrokeshire residents £153,776 over three years, according to figures obtained by Pembrokeshire-based Labour AM, Joyce Watson.
The Mid and West Wales AM used Freedom of Information legislation to find out how much the disposal and clearance of fly-tipping had cost Pembrokeshire Council since April 2005.
Joyce was alerted to the issue when she discovered that the council had not issued any fines or secured any prosecutions for fly-tipping offences between April 2005 and December 2008, despite 2,670 incidences being reported to the council in that time. This is in contrast to Carmarthenshire County Council, which brought 91 prosecutions against fly-tippers in the same period.
Joyce said:
“These figures clearly show the council has some serious questions to answer over its approach to tackling fly-tipping in the county.
“Fly-tipping not only spoils our beautiful environment but, as these figure reveal, it places a heavy burden on the public purse too.
“It’s bad enough the council is allowing fly-tippers to get off ‘scott free’, but the fact that rate-payers are left to pick up the bill adds insult to injury.
“I contacted the council and they told me that last year they issued around 15 warning letters to offenders, but this simply isn’t good enough—the council should have the confidence to take these offenders to court."
Leader of the Labour group in Pembrokeshire Council, Sue Perkins, added:
“I think people will be appalled when they learn how much they are spending on cleaning up other people’s mess and, at the same time, how little the council is doing to deter the fly-tippers.
“I will be urgently asking Councillor Ken Rowlands (Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services) what he intends to do to improve the situation.”
Under existing legislation, Local Authorities can take out prosecutions for fly-tipping offences under the Environmental Protection Act. They can also use Fixed Penalty Notices for small-scale incidents—this is often their preferred route given the high cost of prosecution, which can start at £1000. However, these costs are recovered if the prosecution is successful.
Joyce also warned Pembrokeshire householders about new rules which allow the council to fine individuals and businesses:
“If you hire builders, tree fellers, house clearers, or anyone else who is removing waste items from your property, you need to ensure that these are disposed of properly otherwise you could be liable and be left with a fine. These contractors will normally need a waste carrier registration which you can check by calling the Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 and asking for a Waste Carrier Validation Check.”
New powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 have now come into force in Wales to strengthen action against certain types of fly-tipping. These new powers enable Local Authorities to issue a £100 fine for householders who dispose of their waste illegally; issue a £300 fixed fine for transporting waste whilst unregistered as a waste carrier; and seize vehicles which are suspected of being involved in fly-tipping offences.
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