Prosecution threat issued to flytipping law-breakers

PROSECUTIONS could be considered by Halton Borough Council if evidence comes to light identifying those responsible for flytipping in a Runcorn wood shamed by a charity as a national hotspot.

The Weekly News reported last week that The Woodland Trust said 280 bags of rubbish had been removed from Windmill Hill Woods in 2016.

Bulky items which had been removed from the site included a fridge, mattresses, and garden fence panels at a cost of nearly £6,000. The conservation charity added that clean-up costs at the site, which is managed and maintained by the Woodland Trust, over the last four years has hit £23,000.

Halton Council has now confirmed that it has not yet been involved in any enforcement investigations or have any pending prosecutions for offences at Windmill Hill Woods.

A council spokeswoman said that enforcement action, which includes formal prosecutions, will be considered ‘should any evidence come to light identifying those people responsible’.

The spokeswoman said: “The extent of the fly-tipping problem within the woods was first brought to the council’s attention during a Big Local Partnership meeting towards the end of last year.

“Since then, plans have been put in place for the council to help the trust in taking preventative meas- ures to reduce the amount of fly-tipping in the woodland and subsequently reduce its impact, both financially to the Woodland Trust and visually for the local residents.

“The council’s dedicated Waste Enforcement Team is always keen and willing to engage in partnership working and with local communities in order to reduce and resolve waste issues that blight our woodlands and open spaces.

“With effective partnership working, new initiatives and community engagement it is hoped that there will be a significant reduction in the number of tips in the woodland and we can help to preserve its natural beauty for the local community to enjoy.”

The conservation charity has the responsibility to remove litter, waste and fly-tipped items at the site.

Woodland Trust UK operations director Norman Starks last week said: “It’s worrying to see in a world where our woods face constant threats from disease, pests and development that we also have to deal with the actions of mindless individuals. Each year we are spending thousands of pounds clearing up other people’s waste, which could otherwise go towards creating new woods or protecting ancient woodland. At the end of the day fly-tipping is an illegal activity, and people need to understand and remember that it has numerous implications for our woods and wildlife. We all need to care for our natural environment or risk ruining it forever.”