Hillingdon councillor calls for crackdown on fly-tipping

Photo: Hillingdon Council Labour Group

Botwell ward councillor Janet Gardner has called for a crackdown on fly-tipping in Hillingdon.

Cllr Gardner (LAB) issued a warning to fly-tippers in the wake of a spate of dumping in the local area, threatening to “catch those who are responsible for polluting our streets with their rubbish”.

Fly-tipping has been a hot topic in Hillingdon recently, with littering becoming more frequent across the borough. A man was fined over £4,000 in July for fly-tipping in Hayes, and 14 drivers were fined £300 each for not having the correct waste disposal licensing.

Cllr Gardner proposed to the Council that dumped rubbish should be searched through in order to try and identify the culprit, and take action against them. She argued that the current system is not strict enough, and carries little threat of repercussion.

She called on local residents to report any fly-tipping they come across.

“I ask those residents who care about our community to be vigilant. Get in touch if you know who the culprits are or if you see fly-tipping in the area, and I will do my best to make sure that they are dealt with”.

Cllr Gardner’s statements come after the council’s recent decision to increase fines for fly-tipping. The cabinet decided to increase on-the-spot fines for littering, fly-tipping and graffiti from £80 to £100 in a meeting on Thursday 27th September.

Anyone who does not pay the fine within 14 days faces a fine of up to £2,500.

Cllr Wayne Bridges (CON) Chairman of the Residents, Education and Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee did not immediately respond to request for comment.