Fly-tipping: East Hampshire District Council offers £500 reward to anyone who helps catch a criminal
A council in Hampshire is offering £500 to anyone who helps to prosecute crooks who dump rubbish at beauty spots.
Fly-tipping has long been the bane of rural regions - and often built-up areas too.
Now East Hampshire District Council - which includes Clanfield, Catherington, Rowlands Castle and Petersfield - has brought in a new scheme to try to combat the menace.
Witnesses of fly-tipping can receive up to £500 if their tip-off leads to enforcement action being taken, says the council, which wants to reduce the number of incidents in the district. It says there were 945 recorded fly-tipping incidents in its patch from April to December last year.
The rural nature of the district means that fly tipping often takes place in remote locations under the cover of darkness, but residents may witness something significant that can help our investigations.
Councillor Tony Costigan, East Hampshire District Council portfolio holder for Neighbourhood Quality, said: “Fly-tipping is a perpetual problem in the district, with an average of more than one reported each day. We are taking a two-pronged approach to tackling the problem – reducing supply to fly tippers by encouraging residents to get legitimate waste businesses to take their rubbish away and doing what we can to investigate and prosecute criminal fly tippers operating in the district.
“This reward scheme will contribute to making East Hampshire a no-go-zone for fly tippers.”
Rural areas of the district are particularly at risk from fly-tipping, presenting a threat to wildlife and the countryside. Cllr Nick Drew, cabinet member and ward councillor for Froxfield, Sheet and and Steep, said: "It is very disappointing that people come to enjoy the South Downs National Park and the beautiful landscapes that it offers and decide to pollute it with their rubbish. Many people I speak to feel more should be done and this reward scheme will help us do that."
Fly-tipping in the district can be reported to the council through residents’ My EHDC accounts, and if it is blocking the road it can be reported to the highways authority, Hampshire County Council, on 0300 555 1388 (from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or 999 outside those hours. Anyone who sees fly-tipping in progress has been asked to call police on 999.