Crackdown on Fly-tipping
A community-based crackdown has led to a 66 per cent reduction in fly-tipping incidents in the borough in the last five years.
The positive results, which contrast sharply with a national rise in fly-tipping, are due to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s proactive approach in engaging the public to combat the antisocial issue.
Council officers and community safety patrol officers have been working with the community in an attempt to tackle the issue head-on. By using evidence and local feedback the team has been investigating instances of fly tipping and speaking directly to the people responsible. This also involves them receiving an official warning and the risk of prosecution should they reoffend.
The council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and the Environment Cllr Hayley Eachus is delighted with the reduction of fly-tipping incidents in the borough.
She said: “We take fly-tipping very seriously and we are always prepared to prosecute, but this is also costly and time-consuming. So the council is focussing on other ways to deal with it, such as visiting people who have been caught fly-tipping and raising public awareness of the problem.
“This proactive approach we take to stop people from dumping their rubbish has led to the need to prosecute less and the number of people fly-tipping again decreasing.”
The council also relies on people reporting instances and anyone with any information about fly-tipping in the area can report it to the council by visiting the newly upgraded section on the website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/report or calling 01256 844844.
