Flytipping costs halve across district

Flytipping costs have dropped across the district.

While new government figures show the total number of flytipping incidents in England has risen by almost 50,000 to 900,000 in the past year, the num,ber across the Lancaster district has dropped.

In 2014/15 there were 3,717 incidents, costing the council £228,004 to clear up.

This compares with 6,341 in 2013/14, costing £340,393, and 8,975 in 2012/13, costing £400,558.

The Country Land and Business Association is calling for local authorities to be more proactive when it comes to dealing with the flytipping problem.

CLA north regional director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Councils have new powers to seize vehicles suspected of being involved in flytipping and yet none has been seized throughout the whole of Lancashire in the past 12 months.

Coun David Smith, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental services, said: “Although reported incidents of flytipping appear to have decreased in the district this year, the clearing up of illegally dumped rubbish continues to be constant battle for the council as well as an unnecessary burden on the council taxpayer’s purse.

“Flytipping comes in all shapes and sizes; whether it be a bag of household rubbish left in an alleyway, unwanted building materials dumped at the side of a road or an empty crisp packet thrown from a car window, everyone should take pride in the district and dispose of their rubbish responsibly.”

You can report any incidents of flytipping by calling 01524 582491.