CCTV and tougher punishments - How Sunderland's Conservatives say they would crack down on city's flytippers

Sunderland City Council’s Conservative councillors have proposed an investment in new CCTV at flytipping hotspots and implementing tougher punishments for those caught dumping rubbish following what the party says has been an increase in the issue.

Party members have reported incidents of rubbish – including furniture, refrigerators, and sofas – being dumped in back lanes, on open green spaces and in residential streets across the area.

Members plans to tackle this issue include:

*Investment in CCTV in fly-tipping hot spots, including back lanes in housing areas

*Reimbursing residents who have paid to have flytipped rubbish removed from public spaces and who can demonstrate, through receipts and photographic evidence, that they have done so

*The implementation of a tougher enforcement regime which takes a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tippers.

Councillor James Doyle, Deputy Leader of Sunderland’s Conservatives and shadow environment spokesperson said: “Our plans are aimed at punishing those who do wrong and rewarding those in the right.

“We have been told by council officers that the current position of the council is to attempt to educate those caught fly-tipping and encourage them not to do it again.

“We think this is wrong and that there should be a zero-tolerance approach when people are caught dumping their rubbish.

“Residential streets and green spaces are for all of us to use.

"They are not there for thoughtless people to dump their rubbish.

“Our plans shift the Council’s focus to catching and punishing those caught in the act.”

The council says it investigates incidents of flytipping and “where appropriate, remove and dispose of illegally dumped rubbish from footpaths, highways, pedestrian areas and other areas of council-owned land.”

It added it takes action – which could include prosecution – against anyone who illegally dumps waste and that it is an arrestable offence, carrying a maximum fine of £50,000 and up to five years imprisonment, with the responsibility for the removal of illegally dumped waste on privately owned land resting with the landowner or tenant.

The location of flytipping incidents can be sent on to the council via https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/article/12260/Report-fly-tipping

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