Fly-tipping across South East costing councils 'hundreds of thousands'

Video report by ITV News Meridian's Cary Johnston

Councils across the South East are facing clean-ups bills running into hundreds of thousands of pounds because of multiple incidents of fly-tipping.

Gangs and individuals have been illegally dumping rubbish across the region.

In Billingshurst in Sussex, a man was caught on CCTV in June dumping rubbish from his van onto the side of a country road, before driving off.

Horsham District Council is appealing for help to track him down, while the incident has been reported to the police.  

Councillor Philip Circus says it comes at a time when 'basic public services are at risk.'

He says: "We are wasting more than one hundred thousand pounds a year, clearing up the mess that people leave when they are behaving unlawfully and tipping stuff into the street."

Meanwhile a pub landlord in Reading says he faces regular fly-tipping incidents next to his premises.

David Rigg of The Roebuck pub says: "I think they [fly-tippers] have no respect for our customers, neighbours, public health. I have challenged a few people when I caught them doing it, and I was threatened with violence, with being stabbed, all sorts of abuse at two o'clock in the morning and we've given up it's like fighting a losing battle."

Fly-tipping across the South East has become more prevalent during lockdown, but councils say they are 'fighting back', with many now setting up enforcement teams ready to tackle those who flout the law.

Buckinghamshire Council now has the power to issue £400 fixed penalty notices, with the option to take even stronger action.

A zero-tolerance policy across many councils hopes to force those who would litter streets and public spaces, to clean up their act.