FLY TIPPING is a major source of concern to Bolton residents.

The Bolton News receives calls on the issue almost every week. Many readers send us pictures of the fly tipping offences and Bolton Council keeps us updated on their regular prosecutions of the culprits.

This week, as they repeated their determination to crack down on fly tippers, the council pointed out that new figures bear out claims that fly tipping could actually be falling.

And they announced that they are considering introducing a £400 fixed penalty notice for offenders.

Cllr Nick Peel, executive member for the environment, said: “There is simply no excuse for people to fly tip, or dump rubbish. It is inconsiderate and anti-social and the council will continue to pursue those who fly tip through the courts. Following a recent change in the law, the council is considering introducing fixed penalty notices of up to £400 for each fly tipping offence.

“Officers will continue to proactively monitor hot-spot areas, and clear fly tips as quickly as possible. I would encourage all residents to report fly tips into the council and any other information that will help us identify the culprits.”

In the nine months to December, 2015, a total of 2,084 fly tipping incidents were reported to the council, while in the following 12 months to December, 2016, a total of 2,114 incidents were reported.

The introduction of slim wheelie bins last year was suggested by some as a cost-cutting measure too far and would lead to greater tipping of waste, but the signs are it is improving.

Cllr Peel, who led the roll-out of the new bins, said: “The data is showing that the tonnage of fly tipped material, and litter collected has fallen in the current period compared with the last.

This is in contrast to other councils that have seen the reverse figures. This is not because we have reduced the capacity for non recyclable waste, but is in spite of these changes.”

The council said 94 fewer tons of fly tipping had been collected between April, 2016 and January, 2017 compared with the same period in 2015.

As part of the ongoing crackdown the authority has this week fined five residents for a variety of offences connected to dumping waste.

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One person who attended Bolton Magistrates Court, pleaded guilty to fly tipping a vanload of building waste on a private road near Great Lever Golf Club. He was fined £350 plus £400 costs and a £35 victim surcharge.

In contrast, a Kearsley building firm explained how it always disposed of its waste in a responsible fashion.

The family run firm, C&L Brickwork and Construction, based at Bolton Road, which is a member of the Federation of Master Builders, carries out numerous building projects across Bolton, but always uses reputable firms when disposing of waste.

Danielle Chadwick, whose partner Danny Low runs the business, said: “We tend to get a lot of waste which includes old brick, concrete and soil and we hire a skip company which we have used over a number of years because it is a very reliable service and we trust in them that the waste is disposed of in a responsible manner.”

“If it ever happened that we needed to remove something such as asbestos from a building we were working on, we would definitely call in experts to both remove and dispose of the waste material.”

The figures for fly tipping incidents in Bolton 2016

January 213

February 119

March 223

April 176

May 123

June 176

July 180

August 166

September 213

October 143

November 170

December 142

The incidents are to Bolton Council and does not include those reported through the authority’s neighbourhood services