Zero Tolerance results in drop in fly tippers in Swindon
The rate of tipping in the borough is a sixth of the national average
A crackdown on rubbish being dumped in Swindon has resulted in a drop in the number of fly tippers.
Over the past two years there has been an increasing number of complaints of people dumping waste across the borough.
A new report from Swindon Borough Council’s director of operations Brian Pinchbeck says, "There was a major focus on reducing the number of fly tipping incidents started in March 2021 following a high number of complaints from both residents and members.
"There had been a lack of applying the appropriate consequences to those who fly tip, which had not helped. The system is paper-based and lacks clear visibility. The measure is based on the case being closed and not the fly tip being cleared and working with the parishes was disjointed.”
As part of the focus, Mr Pinchbeck has told a council committee that there were six cameras installed at ‘hot spots’ for illegal dumping throughout the town, and in came a “zero tolerance approach to issuing fixed penalty notices where evidence exists.”
A new reporting and monitoring system is also being installed and work with parish councils has also improved.
Data out shows the rate of fly tipping in the borough, for the size of population is less than a sixth of the national rate and a third of the rate in the South West as a whole.