Lib Dems Demand Action On Fly Tippers

Lib Dems On Bedford Borough Council have urged the Executive to make use of new powers to fine fly-tippers.

Under the plans, which form part of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, local authorities will now have more effective investigatory powers to catch fly-tippers, while landowners and occupiers who have had to clear fly-tipped waste can also recover clearance costs. Further Measures include the ability to remove abandoned cars straight away.

The Liberal Democrats now want to see the powers used in the borough to clear up the environmental blight.

Speaking on the issue, Cllr Judith Cunningham, Lib Dem Environment Spokesperson, said:

" Nationally fly-tipping is costing £44 million a year in clean up costs! Tax payers are being held to ransom by the thoughtless few who think it's acceptable to dump their rubbish. Many residents have rightly expressed their concern about this problem. This is a major issue for both the rural and urban areas of the borough and a blight on our roads and villages. These polluters seem to think it's acceptable to endanger public health and the environment. It's high time they were forced to pick up the full cost of their actions not pass the buck to the majority of responsible law abiding tax payers. Under this legislation we now have powers to fine the people who make the mess for the cost of the clear up and the cost of tracking them down.

I am calling upon the Mayor and his Cabinet to show their commitment to getting tough on environmental crime. In the last year the council cleaned up 2,273 fly-tips. We need to set a precedent in the borough to show that this kind of behaviour won't be tolerated. It's only right that those who continue to fly tip face the costs of their action and that resources are in place to ensure that this rubbish is removed as fast as possible."