Fly-tipping fight goes on in South Somerset

ENVIRONMENTAL chiefs have stressed that they will continue to do all they can in the fight against fly-tipping in Yeovil and South Somerset.

It was announced today that the number of fly-tipping incidents in the district had dropped by five to 1,659 between 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Overall Somerset had seen incidents of fly-tipping drop by 8.7 per cent during that period from 5,687 to 5,190.

But South Somerset District Council has also announced today that there are early indications that the positive trend in fewer incidents could continue in 2013-14.

The first three months of the 2013-14 financial year has seen the number of incidents of fly-tipping in South Somerset down by 114 to 338 on the same period last year and down by 94 on January to March 2013.

South Somerset’s environment and economic development spokesman, Cllr Jo Roundell Greene, added: “Building on this good news, this district will continue to fight fly-tipping, with our enforcement staff leading the way in tackling this crime.

“You can play a vital role by reporting suspicious activity and giving evidence, as this remains a tough crime to deter or prosecute.

"We must ensure that our countryside is kept looking beautiful.

“One thing we can all do is to ensure our own household or business rubbish is not fly-tipped; just ask anyone taking it away – builders, gardeners and other tradespeople – for their waste carrier licence.”

Clearing up Somerset’s fly-tipping costs South Somerset and the other district councils a total of around £150,000 a year, with the county council contributing about £36,000 in 2012-13. 

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