TOUGHER action on those dumping waste could be introduced by the Government following a major fly-tipping incident in Lichfield.
Watery Lane was blocked by a huge mound of rubbish left on the road earlier this week.
The incident saw businesses forced to close and residents unable to access their homes.
Now new measures to tackle fly-tipping are being considered by the Government.
Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature, said that steps were being taken to ensure “waste criminals” had nowhere to hide in future.
“We are looking at what further reforms we can bring in to tackle the rogue waste collectors.
“The carrier, broker and dealers regime is not fit for purpose. I’ve asked officials to look at what we can do to strengthen that and to avoid the sort of casual criminality that we saw in Lichfield where waste from a construction site was abandoned in the middle of a country lane, trapping nine households literally in their houses and unable to leave.
“It is clear that with this government, the era of talking is over, the era of action is upon us, and there will be nowhere for these waste criminals to hide.”
Lichfield MP Dave Robertson also spoke in the House of Commons about the need for tougher action on those behind such incidents.
The Labour MP said:
“I think it’s really important that we have the framework that the police and the services need to prosecute these individuals.
“In the case of what we saw in Lichfield this week, we need to see an investigation.
“It seems like there may be some clues and there may be some stuff in that tip which may lead to some resolution to an investigation. That investigation has to end not only with significant fines, but we really do need to start considering custodial sentences for people like this.
“Due to the actions of those individuals, there was a genuine risk to life there – if an ambulance couldn’t get to a heart attack, that is a genuine risk to life.
“This is something which affects rural areas much more significantly than urban areas and why I thought it was very important to raise this as part of this debate.”
Daniel Zeichner, Minister for Rural Affairs, responded:
“I will not go into the details of the incident in Lichfield because I suspect – and hope – that a criminal case may result from it.
“My honourable friend described it as not just fly-tipping, but a serious example of industrialised rural crime. And it is right to put on record the grief that has been caused to local residents and businesses.
“My honourable friend and his constituents have my absolute sympathy.”
