Backing for plans to seize vehicles caught fly-tipping

Ashworth Valley fly tipping on Boxing Day

The CLA in the North has backed plans to seize the vehicles of people caught fly-tipping in the countryside.

The organisation, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and rural businesses in the region, is throwing its weight behind a government fly-tipping consultation, which proposes apprehending vehicles involved in the crime.

CLA North regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Fly-tipping blights the countryside and is a serious issue for farmers and landowners, who are not only liable for any waste fly-tipped on their land, but can also be prosecuted if they do not clear it away.

“It costs rural businesses up to £150million in clean up costs every year. If new powers can reduce it by as little as two percent, we are optimistic this could lead to at least £15million of savings every five years for private landowners.”

Miss Fairburn said she supported more power for enforcement authorities to seize any vehicle involved in fly-tipping.

She said: “Fly-tipping is often conducted by organised criminal gangs and we have called for culprits to be dealt with more robustly for years. We see the power to remove vehicles as a positive step forward in reducing incidences of fly-tipping.

“These measures should come into force as soon as possible and must be backed up by the police and councils treating the catching of offenders as a local priority.”