Call to send fly-tippers to prison

A disgusted councillor has called for fly-tippers to be jailed after a huge amount of rubbish was dumped on a street.

Councillor Matt Ward said fed-up residents in Walsall's Forest Lane have had to live with the blight of discarded junk including mattresses, an arm chair and other furniture for two weeks.

Offenders are believed to have dumped the rubbish on a derelict factory site on the road but a lot of the waste has ended up on the public footpath.

Walsall Council said officers have written to the owners of the private site asking them to clear it up and also confirmed that the authority will clear any rubbish that is on the highway.

Councillor Ward, who represents Blakenall, said: “More needs to be done to tackle and prosecute those who fly tip.

“We are seeing reckless criminals blight our community far too often with their rubbish.

“I hope that the council act on any intelligence that it receives and use the full force of the law to prosecute those who commit these offences.

“I’m sure many would agree that for those that do fly tip they should be jailed.”

He added: “There are plans to put housing on the site and the sooner it is redeveloped, the better.

“All the residents want is this rubbish removed so they don’t have to see it everyday. They’ve had enough of it.”

A spokesman for Walsall Council said: “The fly tipping reported on Forest Lane is on private land and is therefore the responsibility of the land owner.

“Our community protection team have written to the land owner requesting them to clear the waste.

“Officers from the Clean and Green team will visit the site and clear the waste that is on highway.”

Bosses at the authority have vowed to get tough on fly-tippers and have implemented measures to combat the issue, which is estimated to cost the authority up to £1 million per year to clear up.

This includes imposing the maximum fines possible by law and introducing ‘Walsall’s Most Wanted’ page on its website which posts CCTV footage and pictures as well as offering people £500 for information that helps catch culprits.