Calling for a crackdown on fly-tipping

Taunton and Wellington’s MP, Gideon Amos, has called for a crackdown on fly-tipping after a series of incidents across his constituency.

Gideon, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for housing and communities, was speaking during a debate in Westminster Hall.

He said: “On rural and private land, the Environment Agency in my constituency has said there is a gap in regulation when it comes to privately owned sites that are used for one purpose initially but gradually accumulate waste and become fly-tipping destinations.

“The Environment Agency has no power to act against that because it is private land, and councils are also struggling to find the right approach.”

He added that it was “a significant issue” in rural constituencies such as Taunton and Wellington.

Melanie Onn, the Labour MP who called the debate, replied: “It is interesting that the Honourable Member says there might be a gap in regulations, and I suspect that that is the case for not just rural private land but all private land.

“I have the same thing in my constituency, where there are alleyways or unadopted areas that are frequently fly tipped.

She added: “In those alleyways, and on other private land, local authorities will say: ‘We don’t have responsibility for that’.

“I do think that the Environment Agency would be much more concerned about the dumping and fly-tipping of hazardous waste, which has a broader environmental impact and falls into its area of responsibility.”

Gideon said afterwards: "People who dump waste on roadsides and in public spaces are disrespecting all of us. and places we care about.

“Even worse, people running unauthorised sites are often part of organised crime gangs.

“Just like illegal shop trading, I want to see a big crackdown, but legal processes are often too slow to keep up with the criminal activity, so I'm exploring what changes to the law are now needed.

“Meanwhile we can all help, in fact we have a duty, to check anyone taking away our rubbish – they have to be registered as a ‘waste carrier, broker or dealer’ with the Environment Agency.”