Opinion: ‘Idiots turning neighbourhoods into dumping grounds’

Last week, I secured a debate in the House of Commons on fly-tipping.

Perhaps some people would think this a relatively small issue on which to focus the minds of MPs. I think it is hugely important.

Quality-of-life issues matter to so many in our City. Lots of residents have written to me about seeing an increase in fly-tipping during and since lockdown. For some, it has even affected their mental health.

As I told the Minister during the debate, the people of Paston, Bretton, Werrington, Ravensthorpe and Millfield have had enough.

Nor is the problem limited to the city. Constituents who live around Newborough, Thorney or Eye know the impact on our rural areas.

People across Peterborough are fed up with the idiots who turn our neighbourhoods into dumping grounds.

The perpetrators range from selfish individuals to criminal operators, but the effect is the same.

It’s the law-abiding majority who suffer. On private land, insult is added to injury, because the innocent landowner is made to pay for the clear up. My message to the Government was simple. It’s one you have heard me urge many times – we need a tough, zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping. The Council are doing their best. They are really good at removing rubbish dumped on public land, often within 24 hours. They are switching to tougher language and measures.

Our hard-working Conservative councillors are identifying hotspots and sites for CCTV. I’ve joined them on walkabouts with residents to get action for particular areas.

But there is only so much Peterborough City Council can do without changes to national guidance and penalties. DEFRA needs to change its framework. Fines need to be larger and the Courts need stronger sentencing guidelines.

At the moment, the guidance encourages a “proportionate” response and says “individuals should not be penalised for minor breaches”. That isn’t the way to change attitudes and make fly-tipping socially unacceptable.

When fixed penalty notices are just £150, there will be traders, landlords and others who think that makes dumping things worth the risk. The same is true for more serious offences, given 95% of sentences issued in Court are fines of less than £1,000. The most common penalty is just £400.

This needs to change. We shouldn’t tolerate the lazy and selfish who want to make their waste somebody else’s problem. We shouldn’t tolerate criminals and the unscrupulous.

Fundamentally, we shouldn’t tolerate rubbish being dumped on our streets. This includes being responsible ourselves, when we have things to dispose of.

It’s not okay to give waste to unlicensed traders who knock on your door. You might pay them, but your rubbish ends up being dumped illegally. You also risk prosecution for allowing them to take it.

The family of Cllr Mahboob Hussain were duped into handing over rubbish earlier this year. Although Labour’s response to that incident left a lot of questions unanswered, I understand how it could have happened. Too many people aren’t aware of the law.

I’m pleased that Conservative colleagues backed my call for action in the House of Commons. The Minister heard what we had to say and stressed how seriously she took our concerns.

The Government is listening. I know it will act. And I know the overwhelming majority are with me in wanting to clean up our City.