Market Drayton branded as hotspot for fly-tipping

Market Drayton has been named the fly-tipping hotspot of north Shropshire – with one incident reported a week over the past year.

In the past year more than 130 incidents of fly-tipping have been reported to the North East Street Scene Team through the customer service centre.

Of the six towns mentioned in the latest figures, Market Drayton makes up nearly 40 per cent of the incidents with 53 in the last 12 months.

Whitchurch was the second highest with 34 incidents.

There were 19 reported in Wem, 15 in Ellesmere with eight in Hodnet and two each in Shawbury and Baschurch.

David Minnery, Shropshire councillor for Market Drayton West, said: "It is a very high percentage just for Market Drayton.

"I think it is worse than it used to be. I think people are less inclined to go to the tip. Presumably they have access to a vehicle so why are they not taking it to the tip?

"It costs everyone involved a fortune, the council have to send contractors to clear it."

In Whitchurch, which still has a recycling centre in Waymills Civic Park, the authority identified Black Park Road and Hospital Lane as regular dumping grounds.

But Victoria Doran, street scene manager for north east Shropshire, said the vigilance and reporting of information by the local community and action they have taken has helped to reduce the number.

She said all the reported fly-tips had been removed and six people have been fined for the offence in the past year.

She said the council responds to all incidents of fly-tipping on public land.

A council spokesman said most fly-tips do not contain evidence and the authority had a covert camera it can deploy in fly-tipping hotspots.