Isle of Wight Council to set up task force to tackle fly tipping

The new approach includes a proposal for a task and finish group with cross party representation of councillors.

The aim is to develop a strategy and a two-year rolling plan to crackdown on fly-tip and littering and increase enforcement action against culprits.

On Sunday, Cllr Cameron Palin lamented fly tipping in East Cowes ­after spotting rubbish dumped at three separate locations.

• "It's a great shame" ­— more Isle of Wight fly tipping reported

Cllr Steve Hastings, cabinet member for heritage, waste and environment, said: “There is absolutely no excuse for fly-tipping and littering — it is illegal and seriously detrimental to the environment.

"The action plan will set out additional resources needed to protect the environment, reduce fly-tipping and littering and take action against those who blight our beautiful landscape.

"We have all read and seen about local fly-tipping incidents, such as the recent one at Whale Chine where precious resources were spent on clearing rubbish from the car park and footpath areas and I am as annoyed at it happening as much as our residents are.

• VIDEO Landowner contacted after 'disgraceful' Whale Chine fly-tip

Fly tipping in East Cowes.

"The code of practice on litter and refuse sets out the expected cleanliness levels in different open-air environments over the year.

"Drawing together a single strategy will make sure our neighbourhood services have the resources to maintain clean public spaces and will support the enforcement policies for environmental crime.”

Welcoming the plans, strategic manager for waste and environment, Natasha Dix, said: "We aim to get to where we prevent littering in the first place and I really hope the public will get on board and help us achieve that.

"One important way to do this is to make sure, when using a waste company to remove waste from your property, that they are a registered and licensed waste carrier.

Fly-tipping at Lynn Common, Briddlesford Woods. Credit: PTES.

“This is all the more important now, as we cautiously begin the process to opening the Island to visitors and residents alike, so that they can enjoy our beautiful open spaces without the scar that fly-tipping and littering leaves on our landscape."

Local councils in England dealt with nearly one million cases of fly-tipping in the year up to March 2020.

There were 525 fly-tips collected by the Isle of Wight Council and its contractors in that period.

Residents can check whether a company has a waste carriers licence on the Environment Agency website.

Visit www.iwight.com to book a bulky waste collection or a slot to visit one of the council's household waste and recycling centres.