Just TWO fly tipping prosecutions from 931 callouts in Tameside

Despite receiving almost 1,000 reports of fly tipping between February 19 and June 21, 2024, Tameside Council has only brought two prosecutions for the offence.

Environmental officers are called out an average of six times per day to deal with illegally dumped waste, with hotspots ranging from Werneth Low to back entries in the west end of Ashton. 

They have handed out 127 fixed penalty notices for breaches of waste regulations, served 23 notices for waste accumulation, and removed 399 abandoned vehicles in that five-month period. 

TMBC defines fly tipping as the “illegal deposit of any waste on to land that has no licence to accept waste,” yet the lack of prosecutions is frustrating some councillors. 

“It’s been the bane of my life,” said Hyde Werneth councillor, Phil Chadwick. “We’ve had CCTV of offenders and number plates from a few months ago, and the last four years on Apple Street up Werneth Low have been a nightmare.  

“And it’s up to the landowner to shift it, not the Council. 

“The offenders’ van was seen at McDonalds, so I’ve contacted them for the number plates, but the drive thru cameras are covered by GDPR, so they can’t tell me anything.”  

The two fly tipping prosecutions were both for Hyde residents who refused to pay fixed penalty notices. 

Magistrates fined Michael Nield, of Reynold Street, a total of nearly £200 in April for dumping several bin bags full of rubbish on nearby Norfolk Street.  

Meanwhile Dawn Stevenson, of Market Street, was told to pay £70 in total after pleading guilty to leaving household waste on Reynold Street behind Hyde Market. 

There have been no prosecutions for people connected to bogus removal companies, who fly tip rather than disposing of waste properly.  

However, even if a fake firm dumps rubbish, householders can still be charged if it can be traced back to them. 

“Environment health officers were also busy, carrying out 432 food hygiene, health and safety inspections and investigating and actioning 617 complaints and requests,” said a statement from TMBC. 

“While Trading Standards officers investigated and actioned 295 complaints and requests for service, carried out 97 food standards inspections, investigated 47 scams, investigated 8 underage sale complaints, made 10 illicit goods seizures, carried out 73 Buy with Confidence checks and carried out three court prosecutions.” 

Tameside Council Assistant Executive Member for Enforcement, Cllr Hugh Roderick said: “We have officers out every day working with businesses and residents to make Tameside safer and cleaner, and these figures showcase the breadth and vast scale of this public protection activity. 

“Enforcement work – particularly in relation in clearing fly tipping and litter – comes at a significant cost to public funds.  

“We all have a responsibility to take pride in our neighbourhoods and keep them clean and tidy.”