Getting away scot-free: Hundreds of Shropshire fly-tipping incidents - but only 13 fines issued

Incidents of illegal dumping have increased significantly in the last year, partly driven by the closure of official tips during periods of lockdown.

But new statistics, which largely pre-date Covid, show how difficult it is for councils to trace those responsible or to bring them to book in the courts.

Shropshire Council didn’t issue a single fine, despite hundreds of cases. In Telford & Wrekin only 13 fines were issued over the year.

Fines were handed out in less than one per cent of cases for almost all councils across the wider West Midlands, according to the figures.

Council leaders today said they are committed to tackling fly-tippers but figures show most offenders got away with it in the 12 months to April 2020.

Environmental bosses say a lack of evidence often means there is nothing they can do to track down those responsible.

Across Shropshire and the West Midlands over the year-long period there were a total of 19,517 incidents.

But only 124 fines were issued. And of those 50 of those were in Wolverhampton alone.

In Telford & Wrekin, a new fly-tipping strategy has been created in recent months, including the taking on of more officers to deal with the problem. In one case, a £400 fine was issued after fencing, wooden panels and mesh wire were left dumped in Newport.

Across the Shropshire Council area there have been numerous cases of fly-tipping in the last year. They have included kitchen materials left on lanes in Bishops Castle and carpets strewn down a verge near Craven Arms. A dismantled shed containing asbestos was also abandoned in the Ludlow area.

Garden chairs, go-karts and mounds of tyres among items dumped by fly-tippers

Garden furniture, children’s go-karts and enormous mounds of tyres. They are just some of the countless items which have been left dumped at the side of roads, along country lanes or in beauty spots in recent months across Shropshire.

And it’s become an increasing problem during the pandemic as, with tips shut during lockdown and huge queues to get in when they reopened, tonnes of rubbish was instead dumped.

The lockdown itself has played a part as council officials say many people choosing to do home DIY had led to soaring incidents of cabinets, furniture and other household appliances being dumped.

Figures revealed that nobody was fined in Shropshire from April 2019 to April 2020 for fly-tipping, while just 13 were in Telford & Wrekin, despite hundreds of incidents. The numbers for the last 12 months are likely to be higher.

Council chiefs insist they will not hesitate to take strong action against those who are caught fly-tipping but also admit in many cases there is nothing they can do.

In the majority of cases, they rely on the public coming forward to report fly-tipping and they have been encouraged to do so.

Earlier this year, a Newport resident and a waste disposal company were both fined hundreds of pounds for dumping fence panels and mesh wire. And in December, two huge mounds of around 1,000 tyres were illegally dumped at Bradford Estates, one at Burlington Farm and one at Vauxhall Farm, just off the A41.

Last week, Shrewsbury Town Council’s countryside team hauled a shopping trolley, garden furniture, a children’s go kart and a bike from the Old River Bed. Workers had to haul items up the bank with ropes as they filled an entire trailer. The site is important for wildlife as it is one of the only wetland reed beds in the area.

Helen Ball, clerk of the town council, said: “We find that certain areas have had extensive problems, particularly around the river and on grass verges. We’ve had staff go up to Kynaston Road (Harlescott) to cut the grass but they ended up spending most of the time getting rid of rubbish. There seems to be an apathy about fly tipping and general littering. It is harmful to animals and wildlife.”

“Whether there is something we need to set up to make it easier for people to dispose of items, I don’t know. But they seem to manage to take it to wherever they leave it.”

Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for enforcement at Telford and Wrekin Council, said: “In all its enforcement, Telford & Wrekin Council adopts an ‘education first, enforcement later’ approach resorting to fining offenders who, despite our efforts, continue to commit environmental crime.

“Tackling fly-tipping has long been our priority and we are developing a new strategy to bring down the number of cases.”

A dedicated fly-tipping section on the Shropshire Council website says that “with sufficient information, we can write the person a warning letter, or bring them in for questioning under caution. We can investigate all fly-tipping on both public and private land, with the landowner’s consent.”

The council has been approached for a comment.