The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have today released figures highlighting a dramatic increase in fly-tipping incidents in the South Somerset area during the 2011/12 period.

Official statistics from the Government show that whilst nationally there had been an overall decline in fly-tipping (of around 9%), in South Somerset  fly-tipping increased a staggering 55% during the same period.

The cost of clearing up fly-tipping in South Somerset’s countryside was close to £85,000 in 2011/12, and across the county it added up to a staggering £303,000!!!

	2010/11	2011/12	change	% change
Somerset (5 districts total)	3,692	5687	1,995	54%
Wiltshire & Swindon	3346	2666	-680	-20%
Devon (9 councils incl. 3 unitaries)	8225	9538	1,313	16%
Avon authorities: 4 unitaries	11441	8502	-2,939	-26%
Cornwall	3,144	3479	335	11%
	2010/11	2011/12	change	% change
Somerset
Mendip	1,405	1704	299	21%
Sedgemoor	859	1467	608	71%
South Somerset	919	1664	745	81%
Taunton Deane	407	688	281	69%
West Somerset	102	164	62	61%
	3,692	5687	1,995	54%

(Note that Mendip got off lightest by far in percentage terms. Mendip is where the Somerset Conservative Group leadership hails from, but that must just be coincidence, surely???)

These figures come just a week after Conservative Councillors on Somerset County Council voted against Lib Dem proposals to reverse  opening hours reductions and to open tips on Sunday afternoons. Liberal Democrat councillors also urged the Conservatives to scrap their “Tip Tax” at four waste centres in Somerset, including Crewkerne’s Recycling Centre. Sadly their leadership isn’t listening.

 

   Leave a comment