CCTV could be rolled out at fly-tipping hotspots in Norwich
£100,000 is being invested into tackling the issue
CCTV could be rolled out to fly-tipping hotspots as part of a £100,000 boost to tackle the issue, but questions have been raised about why it has taken so long.
The money will go towards Norwich City Council’s (NCC) Love Norwich campaign, which aims to tackle environmental crimes like graffiti and littering.
The extra £100,000 is intended to help pay for initiatives to keep the city clean and safe, such as CCTV at fly-tipping hotspots and other initiatives.
It has been welcomed by opposition councillors, with the Green group saying it is an issue “lots of residents are hugely concerned about” but has taken years of people complaining for something to be done.
The additional funding was proposed by Labour’s Catherine Oliver in an amendment to NCC’s budget, which is set to go before the council at a meeting later this month.
At a recent cabinet meeting, she said: “I think this shows we are taking citizens’ views – our residents’ and our business’ views – as absolutely essential and responding accordingly.”
It saw the support of Gail Harris, the deputy leader of NCC, who said it would be “really important for people’s quality of life” and a “good use of money”.
It follows years of complaints about fly-tipping blighting city streets, including furniture dumped around Knowland Grove in the Wensum ward area in January and junk left along the Marriot’s Way earlier this month.
Sandra Bogelein, deputy leader of the Green group, welcomed the funding, but added: “It took years to happen and it is only thanks to residents who have complained time and time again that anything is done at all.
“The council also still needs to step up its enforcement against people who fly-tip deliberately.”
Last year only one fine of £270 was issued by the council for fly-tipping.