THE civic clampdown on fly-tipping in the Winchester area now includes CCTV.

Winchester City Council is installing cameras around the district to put a stop to fly-tipping with 900 cases already reported this year.

The council has taken action against 14 offenders in the past six months, including a case which appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates in June.

To further tackle the problem, the council is installing CCTV cameras operating on a rolling programme. These will be installed in various ‘hot spots’ across the district.

Despite court proceedings being suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions, cases have resumed. They are being heard at Winchester Guildhall which has been used as a court since January 2021.

The council took action against an offender who appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates on June 1. He faced charges of failing to obtain a waste transfer note. The case was investigated by the city council’s Neighbourhood Services team. The defendant was ordered to pay fines totalling £1,145.

Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, city council cabinet member for built environment, said: “We want the public, and would-be fly-tippers, to know that we do not tolerate the illegal fly-tipping of rubbish in the district.

"It’s dangerous to residents and wildlife, as well as being a blight on society and expensive to clear. We will prosecute whenever we have the evidence to enable it.”

Anyone who finds illegally dumped waste with a sticker attached, it means that the council is already aware, and will arrange for disposal as soon as possible.

If you find any rubbish and there is no sticker on it report it to www.winchester.gov.uk, on the Your Winchester App or by phoning 0300 300 0013.