A GOVERNMENT Minister has used a visit to Lichfield to promise a crackdown on fly-tippers.
Mary Creagh, Circular Economy Minister, was in the city in the wake of the aftermath of a huge mound of waste being dumped on Watery Lane.
An investigation to find those behind the incident, which left residents and businesses unable to access their properties, is currently ongoing.
The Minister met locals and council officials to find out more about the impact of the rubbish being left blocking the road.
She said:
“Fly-tipping is a serious environmental crime which blights communities, creates a health hazard and harms wildlife.
“People in Lichfield simply shouldn’t have to put up with this. My thanks go to those who cleared the road. I remain in close contact with the authorities locally, who are keeping me updated.
“This Government is determined to clean up Britain so people feel proud of where they live. We will crackdown on waste criminals and force fly-tippers and vandals to clean up their own mess.”
Lichfield MP Dave Robertson said he was pleased to welcome the Minister to the city to help highlight the problems caused by those behind such incidents.
He said:
“Anyone who saw the size of the fly-tip on Watery Lane – or even people who saw images of it – cannot fail to have been angry at the criminals who treated our area so poorly.
“It’s plain to see the difficulties businesses have faced and the distress this has caused residents. That’s why I raised it so strongly in parliament and across Westminster.
“The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is taking it very seriously too. I am really glad that Minister Creagh was able to join us to speak to the people most affected so that we could give them the reassurance that the government is really serious about tackling this issue.”
