Esther McVey is demanding Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester join The National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG) to ensure everything possible is being done to tackle the growing problem of fly-tipping across the area.
The group is chaired by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and includes representatives from central and local government, the waste industry, enforcement agencies, police and fire services and landowners.
During a debate led by the Tatton MP on fly-tipping it was revealed Cheshire East were not signed up, and Defra officials confirmed after the debate neither was Cheshire West and Chester – but Warrington Borough Council was.
Tatton MP Esther McVey said: “I want to see councils use every resource and tool available to tackle fly-tipping and those responsible punished. Too few fines are handed out and residents tell me even when detailed information about the perpetrators is handed over, nothing is done.
“This group has produced guidance which support councils to build and present robust cases in court. That is what I, and my constituents want to see happen. I am extremely disappointed that Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council are not involved, and I will be writing to them to find out why and demand that changes.
“It is good to know Warrington has signed up and is one of only 29 local authorities so far to do so, other councils should take their lead.
Ms McVey said her office regularly received calls about fly-tipping and believes local changes to bin collections, as well as implementing booking systems at waste and recycling centres have added to the problem.
Ms McVey added: “Fly-tipping is rising across Tatton, from household rubbish to dumped tyres on Crowthers Lane, Lach Dennis; waste on the side of the A556 at Lostock Gralam towards Plumley; household items such as mattresses on Holmes Chapel Road, Allostock; and waste dumped in the woodlands of Broad Lane, Sproston, the Sainsbury’s car park in Wilmslow and the Marston playground. That list is growing.”
Repeated incidents are also happening on Colshaw Farm in Wilmslow, and following a meeting with residents, Ms McVey raised it with the council and police.
In her debate, the Tatton MP said a national waste disposal strategy was needed to force councils to keep tips open and collect bins regularly. She also urged government to re-visit a policy suggestion of the previous government of handing out penalty points to drivers found guilty of fly-tipping.
Ms McVey said: “Whilst there isn’t a silver bullet every avenue to stop fly-tipping must be pursued. We need a joined-up approach that aligns Government policy with councils, and consistent enforcement measures and deterrents for potential offenders. We cannot continue to pay the price for other people deliberately leaving their rubbish on somebody else’s land. It is not just the cost to remove the rubbish; dumping waste presents a risk to public health.”
Ms McVey also raised the problem of large-scale commercial tipping on farmland and countryside, citing local incidents in High Legh, Mobberley, Sproston and Little Leigh.
“This is serious criminal activity. We must break the pattern of crime to ensure the environment and local residents are protected,” she said.
