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12 May 2008 (archived)

Fly tipping rates drop in West Oxfordshire

Fly tipping incidents in West Oxfordshire have reduced in number by 85 (11.5%) during the year, according to the latest national statistics published by the Environment Agency.

Twelve months ago West Oxfordshire District Council set up an Environmental Enforcement Team to deal with issues such as fly tipping. In January 2008 the Team's work also led to the successful prosecution of Andrew Wilson for fly tipping. He was fined £800 by Witney Magistrates.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment said: "A reduction in fly tipping is excellent news, particularly as the public have identified it as one of their environmental crime priorities.

"The Team works closely with both the Police and the Environment Agency, sharing information and intelligence on offenders. Anyone intent on committing environmental crime in West Oxfordshire should be warned that they will be pursued and prosecuted."

In addition to reducing the number of incidents; the costs of clearing up fly tipping has been reduced in West Oxfordshire by 28.1%, from £42,421 in 2006/7 to £ 30,508 in 2007/8 (a reduction of £11,913). This is the highest percentage reduction in the county where the total cost of clearing up offences in 2007/8 was £294,928.

The Council has also cautioned and prosecuted for 8 offences, the highest number in Oxfordshire.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Oxfordshire Branch welcomes the news that fly-tipping rates are dropping in West Oxfordshire and calls on the rest of the county to match this progress.

Dr Helena Whall, Campaign Manager said: "Fly-tipping is a menace that blights attractive countryside. That is why CPRE has launched Stop the Drop, to make the countryside what it was almost everywhere until very recently, and what most of us still want it to be - a place of cherished beauty and sometimes utter perfection."

Other areas of the County have also reduced reported incidents and countywide the reduction is 5.4%. There has been a total of 16 cautions and prosecutions in Oxfordshire compared to none the previous year.

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