FLY-TIPPING instances such as these in Leamington have prompted council chiefs to step up measures to tackle the growing problem.
Warwick District Council (WDC) is currently working with various partners on a number of schemes – details of which have yet to be confirmed – to enable more effective enforcement in the future.
It comes as instances of illegally dumped rubbish – particularly next to litter bins – are on the rise, with everything from sofas to suitcases being discarded at roadsides instead of being properly disposed of.
Many residents are understandably angry at those responsible for the current wave of fly-tipping – venting their frustration on social media.
And it is not a problem confined to urban areas. There have been a number of complaints regarding fly-tipping near the Stoneleigh Showground.
Some residents have even caught culprits in the act and taken photos of their vehicle registration numbers.
DEFRA figures released last year compared fly-tipping incidents in local government areas in the previous two years.
In Warwick district, fly-tipping had then risen by around 11.5 per cent, from 1505 to 1680 incidents.
A spokeswoman for WDC said at the time the authority was “deeply concerned about increased incidents” and was committed to tackling the problem.
They told the Observer: “The dumping of rubbish is illegal and potentially dangerous and requires the deployment of valuable resources to remove it.”
Last December WDC did trial CCTV cameras – at no cost as they were to be used during the Commonwealth Games – in the Sydenham area. Although there were no prosecutions as a result of the trial, they were reported to have been an effective deterrent.
Signs erected during the trial warned offenders they faced a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice or an unlimited fine and six months in prison if the case went to court.
WDC community safety spokeswoman Coun Judy Falp said: “Not only is the sight of fly-tipping a blight on the streets of our district, but it’s also requires resources to remove this unwanted waste, which could be better spent elsewhere on projects that benefit the whole community.”
