FLY TIPPING in Wokingham borough is down, despite the introduction of residents permits and charges for disposing of certain types of household waste.
Wokingham Borough Council released figures this week to The Wokingham Paper after BBC Radio Berkshire used a Freedom of Information Act request to discover that fly-tipping is up 20% since the permits were brought in in July last year.
The new scheme allows only residents of Wokingham borough, Reading borough and Bracknell Forest borough councils to use the re3 recycling centres in Bracknell and Reading.
There are also charges for leaving certain types of garden and DIY waste including rubble.
But despite fears that there would be an increase in fly-tipping, WBC figures suggest that there has been a reduction in waste dumped in the borough’s roads and pavements.
Cllr Angus Ross, executive member for the environment at Wokingham Borough Council, said that there were just 419 reported incidents in 2016.
Although this is an increase of 10% on 2015, he said that since July the figures had dropped.
This is at odds with Reading, which BBC Berkshire reported had risen. In its report, Reading Borough Council said that “under similar measures elsewhere fly-tipping rates had returned to normal levels”.
Cllr Liz Terry, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Neighbourhoods, said: “Where these changes have been introduced elsewhere there clearly has been a spike in fly-tipping initially. But over time that has levelled off and returned to normal levels.”
And Cllr Ross echoed her views.
He told The Wokingham Paper: “During 2016 there were 419 incidents of fly tipping in the borough. In line with national trends this was a 10% increase overall compared to the previous year, but a quarterly decrease after the changes introduced on 1st July.
“So fly tipping has decreased since the permits were introduced. However we will review this again in a few further months, as the September changes may also have an effect.”
What do you think? Have you seen an increase or reduction in fly-tipping? Has the changes worked for you? Share your views at letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk
