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07
Jul 2021
Just 10 fly-tipping fines in Harrogate district despite 2,000 reported incidents
Just 10 fines have been handed out for fly-tipping in the Harrogate district over the last three years despite almost 2,000 reported incidents.
Of those 10 fines, only four have been paid in full by criminals caught in the act dumping mounds of waste across streets, parks and the countryside.
These eye-opening figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service reveal how fly-tippers are going largely unpunished.
Harrogate Borough Council, which is responsible for investigating dumped waste and has powers to issue £400 fines – has insisted it is standing firm and is asking the public for help to bring those responsible to the book in court.
A council spokesperson said officers will not hesitate to take strong action against those who are caught in the act but also admitted in many cases there is nothing they can do due to a lack of evidence.
The spokesperson said:
Of the 1,967 dumping incidents reported to the council over the last three years, 388 have been investigated by environmental protection officers.
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These investigations have resulted in 10 fixed penalty notices being issued but only four have been paid in full at a total cost of £1,600.
The issue of fly-tipping often stokes debate over whether charges at recycling centres are driving individuals and illegally-operating waste removal businesses to dump their rubbish at the roadside.
North Yorkshire County Council, which runs recycling centres in the Harrogate district, introduced charges for dumping waste including rubble, soil and plasterboard in 2014 but said there has been little evidence to suggest these have resulted in any increase in fly-tipping levels that would warrant a rethink.
Peter Jeffreys, the county council’s head of service for waste and countryside services, said:
The Harrogate and District Green Party said in a statement that cheaper and more accessible ways of recycling could help reduce fly-tipping.
The party also questioned whether private landowners should face the “onerous burden” to remove dumped waste at their own expense.
The party said:
In numbers: How Harrogate Borough Council has investigated fly-tipping
- 2018 – 60 cases investigated on private land and 44 cases on public land, two fixed penalty notices issued (one paid in full)
- 2019 – 46 cases investigated on private land and 60 cases on public land, two fixed penalty notices issued (both paid in full)
- 2020 – 45 cases investigated/still investigating on private land and 97 cases on public land, five fixed penalty notices issued (one paid in full)
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