COUNCIL bosses say Winchester’s ‘zero tolerance’ approach to fly-tipping is a success.

Cllr Michael Read questioned whether the adoption of the approach has led to successful prosecutions and a reduction in the number of fly-tipping sites.

Cllr Read also asked whether the reduced hours at recycling tips in Hampshire has led to more fly-tipping in the Winchester district.

Former portfolio holder for environment, health and wellbeing at Winchester City Council, Frank Pearson praised the approach the council is taking, and said last week one person was fined £5,400 after being found guilty for fly tip offences.

However he said it is not clear whether fly tipping has been reduced recently.

Cllr Pearson answered:“To date we have had a 100% success rate with fly tip prosecutions and I believe that is largely due to the professional approach of front line officers investigating incidents and the follow up action involving senior officers who review cases before deciding whether formal action can be taken and is justified in the circumstances.

“It is too soon to say whether our robust approach to fly tipping has resulted in a reduction in the number of incidents overall.

“ In order to enable us to review the position moving forwards the Neighbourhood Services Officer dealing with this matter is working with colleagues in the Contract Management Team to produce data for 2016, which will form the baseline, so we can measure how the situation develops and changes this year and beyond.

“ There appears to be a gradual rise in the fly tipping of DIY waste such as plasterboard, bathroom items and rubble, bricks but I cannot say whether this has any correlation with recent changes made by the county council in relation to the operation of their waste and recycling centres.”

It comes after Darwish Robleh and D S Builders (South) Ltd were taken to court by Winchester City Council following a fly-tipping incident at woodland at Chillandham Lane in Itchen Abbas.

Robleh of Lingdale, Chilworth Southampton was convicted of an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The fly-tipping incident occurred after he breached his duty of care by failing to secure the transfer of waste to an authorised person for disposal, Basingstoke magistrates were told.

After being found guilty Robleh was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £150 towards the clean-up bill, plus £500 costs and a victim surcharge of £100.

At the same hearing D S Builders pleaded guilty to one offence under the act and was convicted of two others.

The court heard that the company failed to ensure the waste had been properly disposed of, failed to ensure it had been transferred to an authorised person for disposal and failed to provide a written description of the waste.

D S Builders was fined a total of £2,900 as well as being to pay £650 in fines and costs, plus a victim surcharge of £100.