A fly-tipping crackdown has been hailed as a success after six residents were caught in the act – resulting in huge fines being paid.
One of the offenders said they forgot to load the bags into their car after stopping for a cigarette, but admitted their guilt and coughed up £1,000.
As part of its We’re Targeting Fly-tippers (WTF) campaign, Wiltshire Council captured the culprits on CCTV before being issued with fixed penalty notices (FPNs) totalling £6,000.
And they are also offering hundreds of pounds in gift vouchers to residents who spot fly-tippers leaving waste, sofas, and rubble in public places.
The council said that in Royal Wootton Bassett, three people were caught dumping rubbish on a rural lane. Their actions, filmed by CCTV, resulted in £3,000 worth of fines.
In Bulford, a resident was fined £1,000 for leaving household waste on a public right of way.
A Lyneham resident was issued with a £1,000 FPN after dumping furniture and other household waste on Clack Hill in Dauntsey Lock.
A Warminster resident also received a £1,000 fine after leaving bin bags by the roadside. He told the council he had removed the bags from his car to make space, forgetting to re-load them retrieve them after taking a cigarette break in the dark.
All six offenders paid their fines in full. As fixed penalty notices are not criminal convictions, their identities cannot be disclosed.
Wiltshire Council says it has invested in a network of overt and covert CCTV cameras across the county to catch fly-tippers. The council’s Environmental Enforcement team uses the footage, along with other evidence, to issue penalties and prosecute offenders when necessary.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Flooding, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our beautiful Wiltshire landscapes and our officers are working hard to take action and prosecute those people who choose to dump their waste illegally.
“If anyone spots a fly-tip in the county, or someone disposing of their waste illegally, I’d urge them to report it to us using MyWilts.
“Our officers will investigate and take action, and the person who reported it to us could receive a reward of up to £200 in gift vouchers if the information they provide leads to a prosecution, or a fixed penalty notice being paid.”
More information on how to report fly-tipping can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/fly-tipping.
