Wyre fly-tipping incidents 'mainly in Fleetwood back alleys' in 2020, says council

Last year, 1597 fly-tipping incidents were reported in Wyre, "mainly occurring in Fleetwood back alleys," Wyre Council said.

Bulky household items, such as mattresses, electrical appliances and furniture made up the "highest percentage" of waste recovered by council officers.

However, it appears most people get away with dumping rubbish, after only ten of the nearly 1600 cases resulted in sanctions being issued.

Fly-tipped rubbish is usually removed without an enforcement officer in attendance, if there is no evidence of relating the rubbish to a person or property.

But on some occasions, removal teams are able to retrieve and protect evidence of names or associated properties when visiting the site, to pass on to the enforcement team.

Just seven fixed penalty notices were issued in the borough in 2020, as well as one fly-tipper being sanctioned with the cost of recovery, and two being summonsed to court.

Some people may not even be aware their household waste has been dumped illegally, if they hire a collector or removal firm they believe to be legitimate.

But Wyre Council urged residents to check any contractors hired are registered waste carriers, because responsibility for any fly-tipped waste still lies with landowners, householders and businesses.

A spokesman for Wyre Council said: "Every householder, business and landowner is responsible for the proper removal of waste from their property. This includes waste removed by any trader, contractor or someone you’ve found on Facebook on your behalf. If you're having work done in your home, office or garden you should budget for responsible waste disposal, and check that your contractor is a registered waste carrier and will dispose of the waste properly.

"Everyone has a legal 'duty of care' to ensure your household or business waste is disposed of correctly. You can be prosecuted even if your waste is fly tipped by someone else on your behalf.

"If you do employ someone to collect and dispose of your waste, follow the SCRAP rules, suspect all waste carriers, check their registration details, refuse unexpected offers to take waste, ask what will happen to your waste and paperwork should be obtained.

"If you witness someone fly tipping, please report it to the police on 999 as fly tipping is illegal. If you discover fly tipping, you can report it to the council on 01253 891000.”

Today, Wyre Council appealed for information following another significant fly-tipping incident on the sunken car park in Fleetwood, which was suspected to have happened on Friday January 28.

A spokesman said: "Sadly, we've had to deal with a large fly tipping incident on the sunken car park in Fleetwood. We visited the site on Friday 29 Jan and suspect that the waste was dumped the night earlier, Thursday 28 Jan.

"The waste was a substantial amount of loft type insulation, plaster board, cupboards etc. This was dumped behind the large NHS portable building at that location.

"This waste will be recognised by somebody as being theirs. It may be that you have paid your builders a great deal of money to have it removed or employed a waste carrier to remove it lawfully.

"Whatever the intention, this is the outcome, and it is having a detrimental impact on the community, in an area used by many to spend their allotted exercise/walking time during this latest lockdown.

"So we are appealing for information. If you recognise this waste as yours or you spotted a mysterious van pull up at the location around this time, please get in contact with us by calling 01253 891000."