FLY-TIPPING is back in the headlines after this shocking picture was sent into The Bolton News this week.

It is one of the worst cases I have ever seen in the borough.

There were used nappies, window frames, a sofa and bags and bags of household waste — dumped just yards away from the Raikes Lane tip.

Calls have been made by Keep Britain Tidy to increase the fines for fly-tippers to £1,000 — which I agree with — but that measure alone will not solve the problem.

Fly-tippers are already dealt with severely by the courts in Bolton. While fines are not as steep as £1,000, offenders are ordered to pay legals costs too and these can easily reach into the thousands.

Yet despite this, fly-tipping is on the increase in the borough.

Where there's muck there's brass — so the saying goes — and that is why illegal dumping of waste is continuing.

The tips are charging a king's ransom to dispose of waste — so they are making their money.

But there are also people not willing to pay those fees — looking for a cheaper solution — so they pay a 'man and van' to take away the rubbish. They get a bargain — turning a blind eye to the fact that this 'man and van' is most likely a bit dodgy — and the rogue trader also gets his £30.

So the people who pay the white van man must also be fined — in my opinion it is the same as paying for stolen goods.

You wouldn't buy a cheap TV in a pub — so why pay bargain basement prices to get rid of waste?

People are paying thousands of pounds for a new kitchen or bathroom — then paying a few quid to get rid of all the trash at the end. It's not on.

The prices for disposing of waste safely and legally also need to come down — and this can be done through government subsidies. This can be paid for with increased fines for offenders as well as a reduction in clear-up costs.

Finally, we all need to take a bit more responsibility and have a bit more pride in our town.

Fly-tipping is part of a much larger scale problem with litter — so next time you see a crisp packet drifting across Victoria Square pick it up and bin it.

And if there is fly tipping in your street or near your home — don't just phone up the Bolton Council — get your neighbours together and get it cleared up.

Your local councillor should help you organise this — and if you do this then let me know and we'll publicise your good work.