Ashford Borough Council backs national fly-tipping campaign

Media release

14 August 2018

Ashford Borough Council has become the first local authority in Kent to back a national campaign calling for the Government to do more to tackle the scourge of illegal fly-tipping in the countryside.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is urging councils in England and Wales to support its call for the creation of a central Government fund to help finance the disposal of fly-tipped waste at local authority waste sites.

The CLA is the membership organisation for landowners, farmers and rural businesses. Its 30,000 members own or manage around half of the rural land in England and Wales and are frequently the victims of fly-tipping as the countryside is seen as an easy target. The CLA has 750 members in Kent who own or manage 191,000 acres or nearly 300 sq miles.

CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: "Almost two thirds of private rural landowners suffer from repeated fly-tipping incidents with the costs of clearing up other people's rubbish often running into thousands of pounds. We are calling on Government to create a dedicated fund which covers the costs of disposing of fly-tipped waste.

"Landowners who can prove they have been a victim of fly-tipping could dispose of the waste free of charge, as the fund would help councils to recoup the costs incurred," added Breitmeyer, who confirmed that, of the councils who had so far pledged their support to the campaign, Ashford was the first in Kent to respond.

Ashford Borough Council Leader, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, said: "I have no hesitation in whole-heartedly endorsing this initiative.

"As the largest borough by land mass in Kent, much of our area is picturesque countryside set in the very heart of the Garden of England. The care and protection of the environment is high on our agenda, and we do all that we can to safeguard our precious green spaces.

"Ashford has brought a number of successful prosecutions against fly-tippers in recent years and we are always keen to learn more about innovative campaigns aimed at tackling the blight of fly-tipping. I wish the CLA campaign every success."

To learn more about the fly-tipping campaign visit www.cla.org.uk/fly-tipping

ENDS

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For more information contact:

Darren Laws
Public relations
01634 671167
Darren.laws@zesttheagency.com

Issued on behalf of Ashford Borough Council